Inspiring quote by C.S. Lewis

“The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor’s glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you say it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or the other destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations-these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit-immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But out merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously-no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner-no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbor, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him is also Christ vere latitat- the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.”

What a magnificent thing to think about. I just read this quote on one of my friend's sites and I have recently been thinking about the way we treat other people. Why is it that is seems so easy get upset or to misunderstand? Today I have the blessed opportunity to read President Hinckley's Message "Slow to Anger" from the Priesthood session of conference. I saw that title peeking out of my bag today at school and I thought, "Why is it that I am so quick to be impatient? So quick to pass judgement and to point fingers?" Recently, I have noticed that a lot in my character and I am not sure exactly why that is. I've thought of a lot of reasons why, but no matter what the reason, it always goes back to eternity, each person I talk to, am impatient with, snub, go off on in my imperfectness is, in essence a potential god or goddess and I forget that. I am so grateful, that at the end of the day, when I have messed up so many times, that I can kneel down and apologize to the one who I essentially hurt each day in my actions and ask for help as I try to refine my actions. Unfortunately, I have noticed this lack of patience increasing and luckily, I have noticed so that I can put a stop to it. If any of my students read this, I am sorry for my quick to judge personality. And if my roommate reads this, I am sorry for the words that come out of my mouth with rage or so much emotion that they are hard to gather and take in...I apologize for this mouth that inevitably gets me in trouble on a daily basis. But after all is said and done, I am grateful to know that this is the reason we are here; to learn how to overcome our natural man and to be better one moment, minute, second and day at a time. So thank you, all of you who are my friends, who at one time or another I have crossed with hurtful words (and it has inevitably happened to everyone reading this, because if you know Becca, you also know her frankness...I'm working on it!), I appreciate your patience and your love. That is what keeps me striving to be better and to even try. Thank you. I am inspired by words by people like C.S. Lewis and President Hinckley, who know what is going on and why we're here and who are bold enough to say, "Hang on...can't we all just get along?" I agree...it just comes out funny sometimes! Thanks for loving me inspite of myself.