Beauties of Life - Part I

Earlier this evening, there was quite a powerful storm that rushed through Provo. Water was accumulating everywhere. There were water falls driving down the rooftops. Rivers rushing through the gutters. Puddles appearing on the sidewalks. There was crashing of thunder following strikes of lightning, which struck only a few hundred yards away. At a time like this, when Mother Nature's wrath was building, it would be expected for everything to be dark and grim. However, this was not the case. The sun, ready to fall behind the mountains for the day, peaked out from under the clouds and lit everything in sight. This created a beautiful rainbow off in the distance.

With the rain pouring and the sun shining, a beautiful scene was for all to behold. I stood and pondered on the beauty of everything going on around me. After watching this storm pour across the whole city, I called for my best friend and we began running through the rain, jumping in puddles and kicking water at each other. What a wonderful way to enjoy this stunning storm.

One of the beauties of life is to enjoy what God has given us. This kind of storm, with the raging rains and the shining sun, rarely occurs and I wanted to be a part of that and to feel it. It was wonderful. Of course, I am so thankful for a shelter overhead that provides me with protection, but sometimes, these elements simply need to be experienced. I felt so alive and rejuvenated by the rain. For me, it's these kinds of moments that make life so enjoyable and pleasurable.

The earth truly is a beautiful place. Sometimes we get caught up in the many things that are going on in our lives and don't take to time to stop for a minute and look at the beauty and wonders that surround us every day. So, when there is an opportunity for us, take a look at the sky; look at the clouds; watch the sunset; gaze at the stars; watch and listen to the trees; smell the flowers; feel the grass; breathe the fresh air. There are so many things around us that shows how blessed we are by a loving Heavenly Father.

Want to Live Longer? Crawl Through the Hole.

So, I was at a Buddhist shrine once upon a time in Japan, and there was a big pillar that had a small hole in it. The belief is that when a person crawls through this tiny hole, they are protected from all sicknesses and ailments for an entire year.

So, the secret is out. If you are able to fit through this hole, chances are you can live forever. Fountain of Youth? I think not. I'll be crawling once a year for my immortality.

Caution: the whole does not get bigger over time. It remains the same size. Just so you know.