God bless you Bishop Meeks!

So I went to my old Bishop's funeral today and it gave me a lot to think about. I haven't had very many people close to me pass away, but the few funerals I have been to always leave me with feelings of determination. Kind of random right? I guess funerals, especially the funerals of people who were faithful till the very end, give me greater determination to improve and be faithful. It makes me want to live my life in such a way that I would be missed if I were to suddenly pass. Life is fleeting and one never knows when time might be up.

I don't think death is a scary thing though; I'm not scared of suddenly getting the swine flu and awaiting the eminent death (joke...I think that the swine flu has been blown out of proportion so far. Maybe it will be a pandemic, but I think right now people are just freaking out to freak out). I know right now that I could stand with a clear conscious before God. I'm not perfect, but I'm doing my best to improve and live righteously, and repent when I inevitably mess things up.

Now moreso than any other time in my life I love life; it really is an adventure and I'm grateful for the experiences and trials and blessings that I've had and continue to have. I trust that God will keep me here until my work is done, and when that time does come I will gladly return to my Heavenly Father. Life is for living righteously, and in death the righteous life continues.

We get what we focus on consistently!

"Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or evil--the silent, unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be....Life is a state of constant radiation and absorption; to exist is to radiate; to exist is to be the recipient of radiation.
"Man cannot escape for one moment from this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others. He cannot evade the responsibility by saying it is an unconscious influence. He can select the qualities that he will permit to be radiated. He can select the calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility--make them vitally active in his character--and by these qualities he will constantly affect the world."
(Author Unknown, but quoted by Spencer W. Kimball in the Miracle of Forgiveness)