Life Stages of Faith PART ONE

It has been said that faith is something that must be constantly maintained, such as a testimony. This concept has led me to theorize about the levels or types of faith. From information I have received from humans of all sorts including religious authorities, observations and personal prayer I have decided and believe that faith has important developmental stages that I believe are necessary for a complete and wholesome belief through faith. Faith is something that changes, evolves and has maturity levels like much else. Maturity, problem solving, logic, and lifestyle are all things that humans develop and change. When searching about faith as a concept on the web, LDS.org says, “Faith is much more than passive belief. We express our faith through action—by the way we live.” If the way we live evolves and changes, than does not our faith also?

In the description of faith from the same source, it says that “‘desire to believe’ can lead us to ‘give place’ for the word to be ‘planted in heart’. Then we will feel that the word is good, for it will begin to enlarge our souls and enlighten our understanding. This will strengthen our faith. As we continually nurture the word in our hearts, ‘with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.’ (See Alma 32:26–43.)”

How does a tree start; as a seed falling from its creator of course. The seed is planted in a place where it can grow if given the opportunity and nurture. Humans are the same, it the parents are fertile and have created some earth for the child it will grow. If the child is strong enough to overcome any obstacles, be them large or small, through the pregnancy than it is born. Same if the seed is given enough care to sprout and grow into a tiny green sprout with a leaf or two and some little roots, but the seed itself is depleted. Working alone to digest, breath and learn the infant and sprout are vulnerable to persuasion, they eat what is given, they take what can be reached and they stretch and grow, absorbing everything they touch into themselves for they have not yet the ability to distinguish themselves from anything else around them, if something is not at that moment part of their life, they have no memory of it. If it is a need they have a yearning, but understand they do not.

It may seem that off topic is how I have traveled, but I deem that not the case. Faith being a seed, I reason that that has more moaning than the need to plant and establish it. To have a seed means that it has came from somewhere, hopefully somewhere with goodness and health, but somewhere nevertheless. It is impossible for the donor, or teacher of the concept faith to be anonymous, like a seed from a tree will be a tree, or the seed from a shrub a shrub. The teacher will, through explaining the exercise and model of faith direct the receiver in a direction to apply that theory. It is true that people do nothing but teach themselves, but to lean there must be something available in their consciousness or sub-consciousness to learn. Given only what they have accessible the individual starts developing their faith according to the knowledge they have. Now the people that are developing this faith are much too young to be aware that that is even what it is. It is as simple as ‘mom will come back’, or ’taking a nap will make you stronger and stay healthy’. ­It is not till logic, accompanying experiences, and the application there of are applied that faith moves on to the stage of sprout and infant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ayy2DGqgm4&NR=1
"I still believe in you"

Music by: Peo Kindgren
Lyrics by: me:)

0:36
I know your still searching out through the fog
0:44
I know you want a world better
0:50
than that you know,
0:53
But if you rely on your sight alone
1:00
You won’t get by. (Echo: you won’t get by.)
1:08
Knowing the world is hard to see,
1:14
I still believe that you’ll get by,
1:21
if you just work by means other than sight
1:27
You’ll make it through just fine. (Echo: through just fine.)
2:01
If you know your heart, and if you know your mind
2:09
There is no reason that you won’t make it through
2:17
I do believe…

Ticks in Action

I wonder if you know it, how most things start with hope, even just a spark. It is a form of Faith after all. When you hit a switch, you expect it to work, for a fraction of a beat the moment is focused, defined and ready for that hope. I wonder if you know it, the way people feel, the way they grow. I wonder if you know it, the way responses are earned.

Do you? The light slowly earns its way through the day and pleasantries and vibrations go from languidly far to near and implemented. Suddenly a faded grey becomes abruptly bright as the likeness of hope manifests into its purpose and pure wavelengths that translate in the human eye to the goldenrod of a dawn just ending.

Like, how can it be known if it is a fleeting thing? There is something all appear to seek, but the search of it is a tough one. I wonder if you know what I do not. I wonder if you know.

You might. Fleeting feelings of a time past are encompassed in the adventures developing through word and deed. Mirthful moments expand the consciousness and moments of contact slowly grow as the comfort expands into the gentle swell of camaraderie joins the acquaintances.

At some point it would develop into thinking as one. For it is in the nature of humans to seek contact, to maintain that contact brings the hearts into a conjoined beating and the electricity begins to fuse into understanding past the gentle ‘hello’.

Least of all, I wonder if you know man should not be alone. As the sun was good and gone, bodies still act towards maintaining comfort in understanding.

A gentle sway from start to finish but the moment is not lost. It is surprising the contrast in the tail ends of the arch, but nevertheless departure is deferred further and later. Smack in the center of the revolution is the gentle bliss of connection. Understandings of cause and effect become disclosed from one unto another.

Small ticks in action betray the mind. I wonder if you know it, the nature hidden under nature. I wonder if you want to. The stimulus concealed in action, linked to the thoughts not translated, seems to dodge any inquiry. I wonder if you know it, the moment the first actual level of respect set in.

Amount in perspective? Answer undefined due to fluctuating variables.

For time, constantly expanding in its forever shortening grace seems to disintegrate in definition for as long as reality is kept at bay. The louder more extreme colors of encounters past settle into the swell of methodical rhythm, heat becomes collective and tension dispelled in any reachable, workable area.

Your knowledge has superiority, integrity and reassurance. I wonder if you know.

Thoughts flow from within; they course around till finally finding the purchase enough to climb outward to its exodus.

Are the two palms of mine supposed to react the way they do? Are they supposed to reach and touch and reassure my presence to myself in the manner that they invade, persuade and taunt?

Will I ever learn what my actions may cause?

Intriguing, is the actuality that inability to function overflows the pores, all as the pendulum of time comes to a halt. Leaving the presence of this new comfort is like taking the pacifier from a distressed child. So new, unreliable, and completely foreign is this comfort, yet my mind accepts its dangers as if they have been felt out for years.

To remove that; I wonder if you know; the things that can be hidden must be so.

Me, Myself and the development of Who are new things for contemplation throughout the upcoming future as the goldenrod disappears over the horizon once more, leaving me cold, alone but one step closer to enlightenment. I wonder if you knew enough to see this coming.

Spending Some Time:

Yes i know it has been some time, and though my wrists are hurting today, i had to write anyway. I am still talking in rhyme :'D here is my little piece, hope you enjoy, i am off to do some chores while strange men put in a new airconditioning unit.

Spending Some Time:
The day started with a little repair.
We rotated tires, and added some air.
He planed the trip; I was there for the ride.
It was scorching out; occasionally I wished the sun would hide.
The breeze felt nice; the scenes running by; I could do naught but smile.
We went a many place; searching out one true final goal; it’s amazing we got through without any trial!
Taking sidesteps; we visited many a place.
Moving always; we accept a steady pace though it wasn’t a race.
Oh the places we went,
Without money spent!

We went to Massachusetts, and Michigan. They had long curving roads.
We went to Georgia then took a side trip to Florida, we stopped by some waterfalls, but they were a bit crowded so we just kept moving.
Delaware needed us too, so we spent some time there.
We even made it through some dusty plains, which were surprisingly loaded with traffic, regardless of the uneven floor.


All through the end,
Not a wheel we did mend.
Making it to our goal; we rest a bit while seeing the sights.
Saying hi to old friends; grabbing treats and watching lights.
Now it’s time to head back,
Though on souvenirs we lack.
We get to his house; without even changing jump into the pool; so ends our ten mile bike ride.

To Fade Into Smoke

What is a Child of Clay? What is it meant to me molded? What is my essence if I no longer try to be included?
I am terrified of loosing you. I want nothing more than to remove myself from you. I am doing my best with you.
Pictures, pictures, pictures being taken all around. I believe I have claimed the essence of vampire and mirror. Too bad there is no smoke for me to fade with.
I am only here because I came with you. They do not ever ask to include if I am not depending on one of theirs for a ride. You’re the only one of theirs that pays any sort of attention to me.
If I wanted to forfeit money, I would be around a campfire with other friends, friends that see me. I act not to be included. I am peculiar even unto myself.
Once or twice I am asked why I am so silent. Once they see a plastered smile and hear the word “fine” they scurry back into their comfort zone. What is my essence if I no longer try to be included?
Pardon me while I fade a moment. Pardon me while I breathe. Pardon me while I reset my smile.
Coming back to the world I see in reaction to me I have not missed a beat. Back in time for a single conversation of short, and food. It my fault I am so aloof and take my essence with me.
Nothing different but the chill in me from outside. Nothing different than my reestablished smile. Nothing different with this ever drying out Child of Clay, stiff and brittle.

SORRY!

I havent been able to log on to this for a while becasue of lots of chaos... here are a few things I have written:

Somewhere you only go after ten or think of going after ten o’clock at night.

It’s ten and I am crawling into bed.
It’s ten and the lights go out.
It’s ten and I drift to sleep.
Too bad I can’t just leave now.
It’s one and my phone is vibrating in my hand.
It’s one and I pull myself awake.
It’s one and I slip into shoes and a light coat.
I grab my keys and go.

It’s warm as I exit the house and lock it behind me.
It’s warm as I get in my car.
It’s warm as I arrive.
The trees all glow around me.
It’s content to be surrounded by darkness.
It’s content to be alone in the world.
It’s content to be myself with no judges.
I close my eyes and breathe.

It’s surprising the freshness of the air.
It’s surprising the ability to be so close.
It’s surprising the warmth with no sun.
Finally I can think.
It’s an hour to relax.
It’s an hour I can actually let it all go.
It’s an hour that happens once a week.
There’s nothing better than the edge of a cliff to contemplate your importance.

Something that makes you feel chained.

She is fourteen! FOURTEEN! I am going to be twenty in less than a month and I am not even sexually active yet. FOURTEEN! We never got along. Something has to change if we want to keep her home. Our feeble efforts to make peace from three verses eight on seem as weak as a dry twig. The truth is it is not that hard. But my care for children and other people seems to be the reason I can accomplish this task of changing my opinion. It is not for her sake I try and that is the key. FOURTEEN! She has wanted acceptance for so long whatever looks like it she takes. It’s how she got in this mess, after all. I am just taking it a day at a time, waiting for the moment she uses this to her advantage. Fourteen-year-olds bore easily. It is no wonder we have been able to make her laugh so hard she pees on an increasing rate. Fourteen and we don’t know the father. Fourteen and she lost the begging of her life. Fourteen and the rest of us have to change our own to make up for the qualities she is not yet old enough to have. Fourteen and I no longer have the strength to leave the house for my mother will fall to pieces. Surprisingly my mother is doing worse than my father. FOURTEEN! I will give it a year and see if my house can stand not having me around or if the chaos will delay my leaving even more. FOURTEEN! I am going to be twenty in less than a month and I am not even sexually active yet. We need to keep her wandering soul home.

Respect

It’s been a while, my you’ve grown
I’m still the same size as last you saw me. If anything I’m smaller
A shake of the head to imply that understanding cannot be imparted and the moment moves on.

It starts with talking, something normal, and something equal
It starts with a glance, sizing up, seeing the change
Knowing not the hidden thoughts of the other things remain at that point and the moment moves on.

I was sixteen
It’s been… Wow
A brief hug and a deep smile; hints of the past pass through and the moment moves on.

Out into the world, looking to discover sweets
Discovery of a need, but 8 things block the way
The number is argued but in joviality and another encounter with the past, though to stick with pattern the moment moves on.

Back inside speaking slowly
Speaking softly, pictures shown and hunger passes
Beginning the activity the process is begun and after a time, that too passes when the moment moves on.

Following food dishes are done without the request bringing much surprise.
Following on with the subtle presses outward flirting is ensued
Knowing not the hidden thoughts of the other, but seeing more, the moment moves on.

Hand at the knee
Sitting in the soft, it has been decided and without much it happens

Sudden warmth, not once but twice and the effect it has is not like another, sadly the moment moves on.



Happy but frustrated
Unable to execute the usual games from the sensations
For once being carried along, happy and content, things are just as they were at parting, only more maturely understood even though the moment moves on.

Knowing of the weak points, nothing changes
Respect is passed and it settles down into laying and watching

So much warmth it is hard to let go, but for safety and promises it is left and the moment moves on.