Memorial Day

This weekend is Memorial Day, where Americans remember those who have passed on.  This year has already been a great few days centering around this day.  On Thursday my family and I got the chance to go to Salt Lake to see several of my ancestor's graves.

We visited my grandma's parents, aunts and uncles graves.  We found of from my grandma the reason why they are buried where they are.  We are keeping track of how to best find each grave, so we can show our kids these graves.

We went to Hyrum, where Cathy's grandpa's parents and some siblings are buried.  Her mom told us about an uncle, who had a very adventurous life.  We went to Hyde Park, where our common ancestor's are buried.  Cathy and I are 4th cousins.  We found the grave of Karlo, who Cathy knew from Scout Camp.  We found my grandfather's parents, and his siblings graves.

Tomorrow, we will go and see even more graves.  It is an exciting time, as both Cathy and I want to learn more about our relatives.  This is a fairly new development, as I haven't been all that enthusiastic about genealogy in years past.  But now, I am.

I have been thinking about why this is.  Is it because I am older, and more mature?  Could it be because some of those I love are getting older?  I realize that grandparents and parents must die sometime.  Luckily, the closest person I have had die to me are two great grandma's.  I have my grandparents and parents still living.

I think it is hitting home that this life really is short.  I won't be here forever, and I want leave a mark during my life.  I want to make a difference.  If I can help a few people become better, I will be so happy.  I am sure all of these people, whose graves I have seen recently, were the same.  They wanted to be happy, and make the world a better place.  Marking graves is a way people can remember those who made a mark on their lives.

I have seen several variations of a picture that brings this point home.  The picture is of a cemetery, with a woman in front of the grave, with a baby in a carrier.  A caption underneath says something like: "In case you thought Memorial Day is National Barbecue Day."  The purpose of this picture is to remind us that tomorrow is a time for family and friends, but also remembering those who have made an impact during their lives.

God is in control

There is a lesson I have learned the past few days: God is in control.  This is a concept that is hard to learn, as it implies we give up the desire to control our lives.  That's not to say we are unable make our own choices. We still have total control of our mortal bodies and lives, but we don't control others actions.  This is what I have learned: God will causes things to happen to you no matter what you do. These things are for your (or my) benefit.

This past semester I have been taking a math1050 class.  I am not one who likes math very much.  I love it when I have a use for it.  If I need to add or subtract, I am grateful I can do math.  But when I am learning how to find the center of a hyperbola, what use is that to my in my life right now?  Unless I am planning on teaching math, or do something with a lot of math, this has no use to me.

This is my biggest grip against the traditional public school setting: there are many things that are taught when there is no practical use for the information.  I didn't even know what a hyperbola was until this class. I see absolutely no reason under the sun why I need to know this.  It holds no practical use to the average person.  It makes no sense to me.  Instead of making me learn how to solve an inequality, why not help me learn useful information?  Schools could do their students a big service by teaching practical knowledge and how to use it.

I am not against public schools.  They help millions gain basic knowledge and life skills.  I think they could do a better job doing it, however.

I bring this up because I did not pass the math 1050 class.  I got below a 60% on the final exam, which according to the school meant I fail the class, no matter how much work I put into it. I spent hundreds of hours over the course of the semester learning, studying, and doing homework problems.  I know I did terrible on the test, which is my fault.  I am not very good at taking tests, especially with subjects I dislike.

Well, I got really down on myself.  I felt like a failure.  I've never failed a class before.  It was a new feeling for me.  I needed to take this class, as this was a pre-requisite for Stats 2300, which is required to get into the USU school of business.  I had received special permission to get into the class before my grade for 1050 had posted, and now I had failed to pass.

Well, I told Cathy, and she has been a huge help.  She has been encouraging, helping me see that I am not a failure.  She was by my side the whole time, even when I was down on myself.  She saw the true potential in me.

I went home that night, and opened the scriptures to Alma.  I don't remember which chapter I read, but Alma was giving a sermon about the priesthood, and how great a blessing it is to hold it.  I realized that others may not see me as a success, but God does.  I have been blessed to hold His priesthood on earth, as long as I live worthy of it.  Reading this changed my whole outlook on the situation.

I knew I could enroll again in 1050, and make sure I knew the material this time.  Or I could take a placement test, and hopefully pass.  Well, the math department was kind enough to allow me to take the placement exam, and I PASSED!  I was so excited, and Cathy jumped for joy when I walked out of the building smiling!

We went to Cafe Sabor to celebrate my success.  While I ended up still being able to get into Stats 2300, if I had passed 1050 the first time, I may not have been able to learn this valuable lesson:  God is in control, and as long as we trust him, we will be ok.