i have this friend...
On Sunday, I ended a four-year absence of one of my favorite people from my life. We hadn't seen each other since before I had left on my mission, and she left on hers a week before I got home. She lives in eastern Idaho, and I don't get up there like...ever. She came down last weekend because a cousin of hers was leaving on his mission, and she went to hear him speak. I was just glad I got to see her.
It was like there was never a time when we were apart. We just went back to the way we had been as roommates in college: giggly, loud, hilarious, and completely ridiculous. It was such a blast from the past, and I couldn't get over how easy it was to be with her. She brought such a fun-loving spirit, not matter where she was, and I had kind of forgotten that.
While we sat reminiscing, P. sat watching, listening, and laughing. I don't get giggly that often anymore, but it was so fun to have that lighter, silly side of myself come through. We talked about our old phrases that we made up, our movie marathons (Gone With the Wind counts as its own marathon), our psycho roommate who was a compulsive liar (oh the laughs that ensued!), the obscene amount of time we spent at boys' apartments instead of our own, and our love for the third of our Three Musketeer friendship(we may or may not have taken naps together on a twin bed. All three of us).
The longer our conversation continued, I was filled with so much love for this woman. I was reminded of how lucky I had been at school to be able to live with her, and have so many fun and enriching experiences, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude filled my heart. It took me back to when I told them I was going to serve a mission...
[flashback to my sophomore year of college. I had just gotten through one of the hardest trials of my life (up to that point), which mostly had to do with evil spirits (weird, but if you want to hear about it, you'll have to ask me in person), and we were headed to the dedication of the Rexburg temple. I had been feeling like I needed to have a conversation with the Lord about serving a mission. I had been praying for weeks with no answer. Scene:]
Walking into the stake center with my white handkerchief, I could feel that something extraordinary was about to happen. Although I had been to temple dedications before, I knew that I was more spiritually prepared for this one than I had ever been for previous dedications. I was waiting on the Lord for an answer, and I knew I had done my part. The spiritual ball was in His court.
Every talk, every anecdote and prayer was perfect. I felt so uplifted, and I felt the thinness of the veil at that point in time. I knew there were angels all around, and I could feel the Spirit so strongly. But I didn't get my answer. The dedication was about to end, and I had felt nothing that said "yea" or "nay" to my question about serving a mission. I had resigned myself to continue asking. And I was okay with that.
The opening chords of "The Spirit of God" began to fill the chapel, and I smiled. I love that hymn. But this time, there was something different about it. We sang the third verse: "We'll call in our solemn assemblies in spirit, to spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad, that we through our faith may begin to inherit the visions and blessing and glories of God." I was sobbing. The tears were pouring down my face, and there was no end in sight. I knew what the Lord was telling me. I was to be an instrument in "spread[ing] forth the kingdom of heaven abroad," and that knowledge filled me with such joy, and light, and peace. I had my answer.
When we arrived at our apartment after the service was over, I pulled my musketeers in my room and told them what I had been told. They cried with me, and jumped for joy, and I felt so much love. The next few months held so many more trials, but my friends always stood by me. And in spite of never planning on going on a mission, I did indeed serve with everything I had, and I felt so much support from home.
It is good to have a good support system. It's even better to be able to know that the Lord sent you angels when you needed them, and that you get to keep them around for as long as you live. Thank heaven for good friends!
It was like there was never a time when we were apart. We just went back to the way we had been as roommates in college: giggly, loud, hilarious, and completely ridiculous. It was such a blast from the past, and I couldn't get over how easy it was to be with her. She brought such a fun-loving spirit, not matter where she was, and I had kind of forgotten that.
While we sat reminiscing, P. sat watching, listening, and laughing. I don't get giggly that often anymore, but it was so fun to have that lighter, silly side of myself come through. We talked about our old phrases that we made up, our movie marathons (Gone With the Wind counts as its own marathon), our psycho roommate who was a compulsive liar (oh the laughs that ensued!), the obscene amount of time we spent at boys' apartments instead of our own, and our love for the third of our Three Musketeer friendship(we may or may not have taken naps together on a twin bed. All three of us).
The longer our conversation continued, I was filled with so much love for this woman. I was reminded of how lucky I had been at school to be able to live with her, and have so many fun and enriching experiences, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude filled my heart. It took me back to when I told them I was going to serve a mission...
[flashback to my sophomore year of college. I had just gotten through one of the hardest trials of my life (up to that point), which mostly had to do with evil spirits (weird, but if you want to hear about it, you'll have to ask me in person), and we were headed to the dedication of the Rexburg temple. I had been feeling like I needed to have a conversation with the Lord about serving a mission. I had been praying for weeks with no answer. Scene:]
Walking into the stake center with my white handkerchief, I could feel that something extraordinary was about to happen. Although I had been to temple dedications before, I knew that I was more spiritually prepared for this one than I had ever been for previous dedications. I was waiting on the Lord for an answer, and I knew I had done my part. The spiritual ball was in His court.
Every talk, every anecdote and prayer was perfect. I felt so uplifted, and I felt the thinness of the veil at that point in time. I knew there were angels all around, and I could feel the Spirit so strongly. But I didn't get my answer. The dedication was about to end, and I had felt nothing that said "yea" or "nay" to my question about serving a mission. I had resigned myself to continue asking. And I was okay with that.
The opening chords of "The Spirit of God" began to fill the chapel, and I smiled. I love that hymn. But this time, there was something different about it. We sang the third verse: "We'll call in our solemn assemblies in spirit, to spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad, that we through our faith may begin to inherit the visions and blessing and glories of God." I was sobbing. The tears were pouring down my face, and there was no end in sight. I knew what the Lord was telling me. I was to be an instrument in "spread[ing] forth the kingdom of heaven abroad," and that knowledge filled me with such joy, and light, and peace. I had my answer.
When we arrived at our apartment after the service was over, I pulled my musketeers in my room and told them what I had been told. They cried with me, and jumped for joy, and I felt so much love. The next few months held so many more trials, but my friends always stood by me. And in spite of never planning on going on a mission, I did indeed serve with everything I had, and I felt so much support from home.
It is good to have a good support system. It's even better to be able to know that the Lord sent you angels when you needed them, and that you get to keep them around for as long as you live. Thank heaven for good friends!
I want to hear about this compulsive liar roommate. That sounds like some way good stories. And also, I love how you walked into that temple with the confidence that you had done your part and the spiritual ball was in his court. How you talked about how spiritually inclined and satisfied you were makes me realize I should step up my game.
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