Poem "When Nature Wants a Man"

I loved this poem I came across in the Ensign the other day.  It only had an excerpt (the part around the bold part that I lengthened to include a little more that I liked), but I included the whole thing.  It's about sacrifice and tribulation before the blessing, the refining by fire that life can be...

When Nature Wants a Man

When Nature wants to drill a man
And thrill a man,
And skill a man,
When Nature wants to mould a man
To play the noblest part;
When she yearns with all her heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall praise--

Watch her method, watch her ways!
How she ruthlessly perfects
Whom she royally elects;
How she hammers him and hurts him
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which only Nature understands--

While his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands!--
How she bends, but never breaks,
When his good she undertakes....
How she uses whom she chooses
And with every purpose fuses him,
By every art induces him
To try his splendor out--
Nature knows what she's about.

When Nature wants to take a man
And shake a man
And wake a man;
When Nature wants to make a man
To do the Future's will;
When she tries with all her skill
And she yearns with all her soul
To create him large and whole....
With what cunning she prepares him!

How she goads and never spares him,
How she whets him and she frets him
And in poverty begets him....
How she often disappoints
Whom she sacredly anoints,
With what wisdom she will hide him,
Never minding what betide him
Though his genius sob with slighting and his pride may not forget!
Bids him struggle harder yet.
Makes him lonely
So that only
God's high messages shall reach him
So that she may surely teach him
What the Hierarchy planned.

Though he may not understand
Gives him passions to command--
How remorselessly she spurs him,
With terrific ardor stirs him
When she poignantly prefers him!

When Nature wants to name a man
And fame a man
And tame a man;
When Nature wants to shame a man
To do his heavenly best....
When she tries the highest test
That her reckoning may bring--
When she wants a god or king!--
How she reins him and restrains him
So his body scarce contains him
While she fires him
And inspires him!
Keeps him yearning, ever burning for a tantalising goal--
Lures and lacerates his soul.
Sets a challenge for his spirit,
Draws it higher when he's near it--
Makes a jungle, that he clear it;
Makes a desert, that he fear it
And subdue it if he can--
So doth Nature make a man.

Then, to test his spirit's wrath
Hurls a mountain in his path--
Puts a bitter choice before him
And relentless stands o'er him.
'Climb, or perish!' so she says....
Watch her purpose, watch her ways!

Nature's plan is wondrous kind
Could we understand her mind ...
Fools are they who call her blind.
When his feet are torn and bleeding
Yet his spirit mounts unheeding,
All his higher powers speeding
Blazing newer paths and fine;
When the force that is divine
Leaps to challenge every failure and his ardor still is sweet
And love and hope are burning in the presence of defeat....

Lo, the crisis! Lo, the shout
That must call the leader out.
When the people need salvation
Doth he come to lead the nation....
Then doth Nature show her plan
When the world has found--a man!

Angela Morgan

Homeschooling at our House: "Master plans"

On my family blog (link), I am in the process of posting a four part series of my....

*drumroll, please.....*

MASTER PLAN!!!!! MWA-HA-HA-HA!!!

In the first one, I have the "intro" or "why," and then I am breaking it down into:

Part 1-Daily
Part 2-Weekly
Part 3-Monthly
Part 4-Yearly

If I was as cool as my good friend Marni, I would have it in a cool spreadsheet, complete with awesome quotes and a cool picture of "cheerio lady" somewhere, but, as it is, at least it is posted :)...

(You should see her post on "The Cheerios Lady (aka a Mother's sweet revenge)"(link) --so hilarious!)

The Trivium: three stages of classical education

I posted this on my Vanguard Youth site, but wanted to include it here, because it applies so well to my homeschooling.  When I am engaged in a "family discussion," it is challenging to engage my entire family.  I have the "littles," who just want to repeat the story back to me ("grammar stage"), my "middles," who like to make connections with other things they have learned, and my "olders," who are beyond rote-repetition and are more eager to see application.  I see the boredom of the littles (or even middles!) as I excitedly talk about application.  It was a good reminder, as a parent and as a teacher, to be aware of what they are ready for in their learning.

I came across this great article by Susan Wise Bauer, that helps us understand why our 12 year olds in Vanguard don't reason or process information the same way our 15 year olds do :)...why when we ask them to reason and apply it is so challenging at a younger age, when they are just getting into using logic to reason about what they are learning.  I included the entire first part of the article, and give complete credit to her and her genius with no profit to myself, other than the betterment of the world around me, and therefore a benefit to myself :)...

What is Classical Education?

by Susan Wise Bauer

Classical education depends on a three-part process of training the mind. The early years of school are spent in absorbing facts, systematically laying the foundations for advanced study. In the middle grades, students learn to think through arguments. In the high school years, they learn to express themselves. This classical pattern is called the trivium.

The first years of schooling are called the “grammar stage” — not because you spend four years doing English, but because these are the years in which the building blocks for all other learning are laid, just as grammar is the foundation for language. In the elementary school years — what we commonly think of as grades one through four — the mind is ready to absorb information. Children at this age actually find memorization fun. So during this period, education involves not self-expression and self-discovery, but rather the learning of facts. Rules of phonics and spelling, rules of grammar, poems, the vocabulary of foreign languages, the stories of history and literature, descriptions of plants and animals and the human body, the facts of mathematics — the list goes on. This information makes up the “grammar,” or the basic building blocks, for the second stage of education.

By fifth grade, a child’s mind begins to think more analytically. Middle-school students are less interested in finding out facts than in asking “Why?” The second phase of the classical education, the “Logic Stage,” is a time when the child begins to pay attention to cause and effect, to the relationships between different fields of knowledge relate, to the way facts fit together into a logical framework.

A student is ready for the Logic Stage when the capacity for abstract thought begins to mature. During these years, the student begins algebra and the study of logic, and begins to apply logic to all academic subjects. The logic of writing, for example, includes paragraph construction and learning to support a thesis; the logic of reading involves the criticism and analysis of texts, not simple absorption of information; the logic of history demands that the student find out why the War of 1812 was fought, rather than simply reading its story; the logic of science requires that the child learn the scientific method.

The final phase of a classical education, the “Rhetoric Stage,” builds on the first two. At this point, the high school student learns to write and speak with force and originality. The student of rhetoric applies the rules of logic learned in middle school to the foundational information learned in the early grades and expresses his conclusions in clear, forceful, elegant language. Students also begin to specialize in whatever branch of knowledge attracts them; these are the years for art camps, college courses, foreign travel, apprenticeships, and other forms of specialized training.

Of course, there are kids that are more logical and more ready for "rhetoric" sooner than others, but it can explain the struggle (hence, blank stares) that younger scholars experience when asked to reason and apply what they are learning.

Trusting and Waiting on the Lord...a parable

I have been praying for faith to match my situation right now, and "happened" across this scripture in my morning study yesterday: (Doctrine & Covenants 101)

44 A certain ^anobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my ^bvineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive trees;

 45 And set ^awatchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard.

 46 Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.

 47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?

 So the master of the vineyard gives specific instructions, his servants begin to do it, and then they begin to question the why of it all.

 48 And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?

 49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.

 50 And while they were at variance one with another they became very ^aslothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.

 51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the ^ahedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive trees.

What a terrible result from not faithfully, literally faith-fully, following seemingly obscure directions! So the Lord takes further steps:

 52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the ^avineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil?

 53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a ^awatchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?

 54 And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.

 55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his ^aservants: Go and gather together the residue of my servants, and take ^ball the strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men, and they that are of middle age also among all my servants, who are the strength of mine house, save those only whom I have appointed to tarry;

 56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine; I have bought it with money.

 57 Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the ^awalls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen.

 58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, ^aavenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land.

 Notice the difference between this servant and the others:

 59 And the servant said unto his lord: When shall these things be?  (Great Question)

 60 And he said unto his servant: When I will; (Hard Answer) go ye straightway, and do all things whatsoever I have commanded you;

 61 And this shall be my seal and ^ablessing upon you—a faithful and ^bwise steward in the midst of mine house, a ^cruler in my kingdom.

 62 And his servant went straightway, and did all things whatsoever his lord commanded him; and ^aafter many days all things were fulfilled.

"After many days," hmmmm?  How long did Elijah and the widow of Nain have to live off that cruse of oil and grain?  How long were the Jaredites blown upon the waters of the ocean?  How long was the trek across the United States for the early morning pioneers?  HowHow many years of Joseph Smith's life was spent in persecution?

May my faith be equal to the Lord's bidding...

The power of "Intentionally recreating"

I was talking to a friend yesterday, and she said that so often we of the LDS faith underestimate a  line in " The Family: a Proclamation to the World": "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles...[among other things] wholesome recreational activities."

This was brought up as I was sharing some insights I got from a BYU devotional talk I came across not too long ago while listening to the radio in my car.  It was a broadcast on k-BYU on July 17, given by Patti Freeman and titled "Intentional recreation and Things that Matter Most."

Here is a link where, for now, you can either listen to or watch it. (I believe the transcript will be up later.)  I only came in towards the end, but it was incredible...all about the many benefits we get with intentionally recreating as a family (or as mentors with our youth!).

Intentional recreation and Things that Matter Most

When the transcripts are up, I will try and put in my favorite sections for those who don't have the time to listen to, watch, or read the whole thing.

One part that stuck out to me was only a small part of the talk, but she spoke about how when we recreate as a family, it is an opportunity for our sons and daughters (or youth!) to see how men and women appropriately treat each other.  I thought about last May, when Quinn and the kids and I hiked the slot canyons Ding and Dang down by Goblin Valley.  Quinn had to both lower and raise me up several times, offered to help with things, and I deferred to his judgment several times with trust and appreciation for his perspective in the best path for our family.  I had never thought of this blessing of "recreating" together!

Anyway, there were a whole bunch of other great points to it, and to at least listen to the last 20 minutes, in my mind, would be incredibly valuable--seeing as that is all I got from it :).

"Let it begin"...

Listen to this song, really listen to what it says.  The message is incredibly powerful.  It is called "Let it Begin" and it's message is ageless and timeless.  I love the beauty of sacred, inspired music!

For instance, one of the lines goes:  "The mistakes of the past don't define you...they refine you."

https://www.lds.org/youth/music?lang=eng

Enjoy!

Amazing, inspiring video!

Be Strong

I love videos about youth, about diversity, and about faithful courage...this one met all three :).

That "Mary-spunkiness"...

Tonight, I went to do temple work and had an interesting experience.

It is a very amazing spiritual experience, to attend the temple, and normally I just relish it.

However, tonight, I was informed at the desk that there had been a "change in policy" with how that temple did certain things with a change in that temple's presidency.  My first thought was "Really!  Isn't the spirit of the law more important than the letter of the law?  Which one is this serving?"  It was followed by a quick second, "Well, at least the Gospel is still true."

It made me think:
-I am soooo much like my little Hava, my stubborn 3 year old that is a mirror-image of Constance Contraire in "Mysterious Benedict Society" (the name captures the basic personality, for those who haven't read that delightful book).  I guess I cannot wonder where she gets it from :)!  Just don't tell me to jump through a hoop for convenience if it is not principle-based, or please share with me the principle so I can understand...and this tendency of mine is getting worse with age--to get riled up over "letter over spirit" of the law actions. (Don't get me started on the Salt Lake County Library System employees,...sorry, Mom :)!)

-This spunkiness is one reason that I was saved for the last days:  My sheer spunky passion for truth and doing what is right for the right reason.

-I am definitely not a member of my church because I am a follower, conformer, or "it is the easiest way." :)  I don't think conforming for the sake of conforming is within my make-up.

-What was the motivation for the change in policy?  To coerce conformity to an ideal of someone?  Then came the uncomfortable follow-up thought: How often do I do this kind of thing in my home-- "kind of" give someone their agency, while exercising huge powers of coercion and "consequences" to try and get them to do what I want them to do anyway?  Hmmmmm.....For an agency-passionate person, how do I allow for agency in my home?  Satan's plan of force and control vs. God's plan of painful agency...the war goes on, doesn't it :)?

I ended up having a marvelous night...I just learned and thought about concepts that I might not have expected to, coming into the evening :).

I also got to see my parents, who volunteer there on Saturdays, and Quinn got to read some Hungarian names...loved it!

Karate Kid and "Inspire not Require"

Growing up, I enjoyed watching the original "Karate Kid" with Mr. Miagee (sp?).  Something about the underdog mentored by a man wholly dedicated to his principles really intrigued me.

As I was cleaning up the kitchen tonight, I had half an ear out for the new version of this movie playing in my living room.  I saw this little "punk" kid doing repetitive, senseless motions...just because someone told him to.  Now, this kid didn't do it just for kicks--he wanted what the man had to offer to teach him.  He wanted it so much, he was willing to do things that didn't make sense, didn't seem worthwhile.

It made me think of my kids and their education and the power of the Thomas Jefferson Education principle, "inspire not require."  The basic concept of this is that, scholastically, you seek to inspire your children by exposing them to greatness--great ideas, great people--rather than "requiring" them to learn a set curriculum you place before them.  Inspiring is a lot of work.  Yet, tonight, I caught a glimpse of the power of it.

As I study, learn, make connections, create pieces of art, work on my music, get excited about history, math, and science, they see me exploring the world, learning, and making a difference.  I hear them say things like "I wish I could do that!" and "When can I be in your class, mommy?"  I see that young boy on "Karate Kid" putting in so much effort, time, sweat, and dedication to doing what his mentor tells him to do, knowing he can show him the way, and the power of "inspire not require" hits home...as well as it's sister-concept: "you not them" (work on your own education if you want your kids to work on their's...).

As I watched the mentoring in "Karate Kid," I caught a glimpse of my kids writing, practicing laborious, repetitive exercises in math, putting in the hard work of outlining, mapping, and "time-lining" history, wanting to be more physically fit, eating better, studying the scriptures, sacrificing for what is right...just because they wanted what I had, and wanted to be what I am or am becoming (or other people they can be mentored by, thankfully!).

Inspiring is definitely not the easy path, but how rewarding! that I can pursue things that God wants me to learn for my mission, and my kids can join me in that process.  When a person owns their own education, wants it for themselves and for the real fruits it has to offer, the learning curve spikes, and their reception and learning capacity is greatly enlarged.  That's the power of leadership education.

Funny, the strange places you can find truth. :)

Rest to my soul

I came across this scripture today, and it stuck with me today...

 Alma 37: 34 Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find ^arest to their souls.

It made me realize that God knows how hard it can be to do good works...He knows it is not easy!  Yet, the offer is rest to our souls...not our bodies, our souls.  As I faced a dirty kitchen tonight, getting home late after a wonderful time at a reception for an old, dear friend, and knowing that tomorrow is the Sabbath day, I had a split second debate.  I was tired, true, but I knew that I really wanted a day of rest, both for me and for my family.

So my tired body got to work, thinking about this scripture. 

Sometimes it is so hard, as a mom, as a wife, as a person to keep going, to do those seemingly small things that can make the difference of gladness in the lives of those we love.  Yet, His promise is a glorious one, blessing us where it really counts...rest to our souls.

Having done that small labor of love in my kitchen this night, with a vision of a more restful Sabbath before me, I feel rested in my soul.  Good, better, best--it is different for everyone, and, for me tonight, it wasn't to sit and read or rest,...it was to prepare my home for the Sabbath.  As I worked, going through those sometimes monotonous, unthinking motions that I have done so many times before, my mind pondered on wonderful things, and I feel rest in my soul.

(The blessings of work are many, and the activity of engaging in menial, repetitive labor allows our minds to ponder is one of those blessings: see life-changing article on Family Work in the BYU magazine Spring 2000 issue: Article on Family Work . There is also a great shorter version at the next link: Family Work quickie.)

Is it truly that easy...just to look?

A little while ago, my family came across the scriptural story of Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness in our family scripture study.  God had sent poisonous serpents, and people were dying all around.  Moses constructed a staff with a serpent at the top and promised that if the Israelites would just look, they would be healed.  That's it...just look up.

Verse 41 of 1 Nephi of the Book of Mormon offers this insight:

...He sent fiery flying ^bserpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be ^chealed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the ^dsimpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.

 It made me think about Alma 33:

19  Behold, he (Christ) was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.
20  But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.
21  O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

So what does it mean to "look"?  How do we "cast our eyes about" that we might be healed?  I have thought a great deal about this.  I thought about reading my scriptures, saying my prayers...anything that makes me "look in the direction of Christ"...temple worship, beautiful art of Him and God's creations, going to church...and I thought about how simple and easy these things are.  I think we make it hard our ourselves, thinking that, somehow, something so easy as opening those pages to read a couple verses, something so simple as kneeling when we are hurting or joyful, couldn't possibly do something as miraculous as heal us.

These thoughts stuck with me for a few days, as I wondered how I can look to Him in my life.

Then I watched the Olympics and, as I watched the women gymnastics, I noticed something that struck me.  When the young ladies came off of their event, having committed some error that seemed beyond their ability to cope with, I watched their coaches.  Their coach would put their hands on their shoulders or on either side of their faces, gaze with intense focus into those young, hurting eyes, and reach them.  I can only imagine what they said, but I imagine it was something like: "You messed up, but you can do it!  Don't give up!  Keep going!  Keep your focus!  You have trained your whole life for this!  You can do it!"

I thought, when we look to Christ, He wants to do the same for us, our faces between His hands, His face focused on ours: "You can do it!  You messed up, you're hurting, you're worried...don't lose hope!  Keep your focus!  I am here! Don't give up!"

It became real to me one night as I felt overwhelmed with a new development and consideration in going to Hungary.  I felt despair seeking entrance to my mind, and I was tired enough that I was ready to give in at the moment.  Then, the thought entered my mind, "Look to me..."  I remember distinctly sitting tiredly on the chair, lifting my eyes up towards the wall, and imagining my Savior and Elder Brother before me, looking down at me.  I focused on that thought, and, in a very real way, I felt the worry dissolve away, and perspective come back.  In the long scheme, my worries are very small, and I felt such peace enter my heart...just by looking.

To look to Him....what stops us?  Where do we tend to look?  At the dying, struggling masses around us?  Comparing ourselves or seeking help from them?  How easy is it, really, to look?

 Alma 47:46-47 :

46  O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

47  And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live...

He is there.  He is more real than those coaches at the Olympics, and He is ready, in a very real way, to take our faces in His hands and gaze into our hurting eyes and souls to reach us: "You messed up...but you can do it!  I am here!  Trust me!  You have trained your whole life for this moment! Don't give up!"

Heroes

Beautiful quotes from a book I am reading, "Circle of Quiet" by Madeleine L'Engle:

The common man lives within his capacity; he is probable as well as common; because of this he will choose the safe way. But mankind has progressed only when an uncommon man has done the improbable,  and often the impossible, has had the courage to go into the darkness, and has been willing, out of the nettle, danger, to pluck the flower, safety...

But this is the Age, among other things, of the Anti-hero.  This is the Age of Do-it-yourself; Do-it-yourself Oil Paintings; Just Follow the Numbers; Do-it-yourself Home Organ Lessons; Do-it-yourself Instant Culture.

But I can't do it myself.  I need a hero.  Sometimes, I have chosen pretty shoddy ones, as I have chosen faulty mirrors in which to see myself.  But a hero I must have.  A hero shows me what fallible man, despite and even with his faults, can do...

In looking towards a hero, we are less restricted and curtailed in our own lives.  A hero provides us with a point of reference...

All teachers [and parents!] must face the fact that they are potential points of reference.  The greatest challenge a teacher has to accept is the courage to be; if we are, we make mistakes; we say too much where we should have said nothing; we do not speak where a work might have made all the difference. If we are, we will make terrible errors. But we still have to have the courage to struggle on, trusting in our own points of reference to show us the way.

Amazing!  The courage to be! The need for heroes...

To anyone reading this, I would love to hear who your heroes are, your points of reference!  Thanks!