Lessons from History

Mr. Brown, the greatest U.S. History mentor to ever walk the Earth, is having to stop teaching USH and do other things with Williamsburg Academy. So last Wednesday, we had our final discussion with Mr. Brown. One of the questions he asked us was this. What have you learned through History? The discussion that commenced was one of the moving and motivational ones I've participated in. Cramming study guide information into my brain and trying to connect it all in preparation for my oral final, I've come across my thoughts on the lessons of history. So I thought I would share with you.

In the Founding Era (from the discovery of America to Jackson's presidency, approximately), we can learn that all men are created equal. This may seem obvious to us, but then it wasn't. The idea was revolutionary. All men, created equal? Every single man and woman is entitled to the same rights and privileges we partake in every day living in the United States? That's right. Every man. Black and White, Male and Female, Democrat and Republican. We all deserve peace and freedom.
Freedom requires order and in order to keep order, some freedoms must be taken away. At the beginning of America, we had total freedom. No limits. Creating the Constitution and the amendments, implementing laws. We took away certain freedoms to keep order. Anarchy is not our tune. Freedom and Democracy are.

From the Antebellum Era (Antebellum means before war, so from Jackson's Presidency to the 1850's in America's case), we can learn these lessons. Be humble, compromise, and repeat trial and error until you have found truth. 
Don't hate, have empathy and see both sides of the argument. When Jackson removed the Indians, he lacked empathy and compassion. The trail of tears is, in my opinion, one of the most tragic incidents in American History. Why? Mostly because there was a lack of empathy.
Don't start unnecessary wars. War should be plan W, not plan A. When James Knox Polk was pursuing Manifest Destiny, he started the Mexican American war (which would take a while to go into detail, so do some research for me) to acquire more land and control most of the North American Continent. Even though we won a plethora of territory and pursued Manifest Destiny to the fullest, was that war really necessary? There's your moral question of the day. Keep peace :).
There is a thin line between compromising and avoiding problems entirely. It is human nature to skirt around problems and occasionally prod them with a stick. However, we need to face problems head on, and compromise where we need to. Some problems will never be entirely solved. But we need to compromise. But never, EVER EVER EVER, completely avoid problems. Be brave.

Lessons from the Civil War Era (pretty self-explanatory).
Progress hurts. In order to abolish slavery and progress as Americans and as a nation, we had to go to war. John Brown foretold this when he was executed for his actions as an abolitionist. Brother against Brother. Father against Son. That hurt. Yet look where we are now. Slavery is abolished. America can finally start living up to its ideal of all men are created equal. Progress hurts. Progress is worth it.
Truth is two competing extremes. The abolitionists of the Civil War Era were so passionate about their belief that slavery is an evil (and we can see that now. But not everyone could see that in 1861) that they killed. The created havoc. They lead uprisings. They terrorized Southerners for their belief that Slavery is okay. It isn't, but we have to respect. To keep slavery, to abolish. Two competing extremes. Truth is somewhere in there.
Listen to others. Going back to the abolitionists, we know that they were so bent on abolishing slavery that they turned off their humanity and abandoned their empathy. In heated problems such as this, take a step back. Try for one minute to possess empathy. To possess love. Listen to to others. Because chances are, you're not perfect either.

The Industrial Revolution (when factories start popping up in America, we enter an age of technology and innovation. We start to enter the modern age).
Wherever you are in life, you have to treat others with humanity. You cannot neglect others' humanity and feelings. You have to look outside yourself in progress, because if you are dehumanizing someone, is it true progress? The Robber Barons (big factory owners such as Andrew Carnegie) robbed people of good working conditions, safe working conditions, fair minimum wage, and initiated child labor. Though we made all these extremely radical and practical inventions such as the lightbulb, telephone, car, and airplane, we dehumanized others. We were not valuing human life. Don't make those mistakes.
Without moral guidance, "progress" can backtrack very quickly. If we are not being counseled by others, if we do not possess empathy, our "progress" will become meaningless. We forget ourselves and others. Know the right. Have empathy. We can learn from Abraham Lincoln on this. He included Southern Democrats in his cabinet. People who opposed him. Because of this, he was able to make the best decision possible for the Union.
Problems will always get solved, but if you don't take the initiative, they won't get solved in the way you like. When Theodore Roosevelt came into office, he immediately broke up the Trusts, using Trust Busts, set up regulations and safety standards. The Robber Barons didn't really like this. Even though they knew that Trusts were corrupt and wanted to change things, they didn't take the initiative.  So Theodore Roosevelt did it for them. Don't complain about things you're not willing to change. Be the change you wish to see in the World. Otherwise those things will get changed. But without your two cents, it won't get done how you would like. If everyone pitches in two cents, we can make this world a extremely better place.
Give people freedom and they will change the world. When America went to war with Spain to free Cuba from Spain's rule, one of the reasons is because they wanted to establish democracy there (there were obviously other motives, but that was one of them). And so they did. Cuba was given freedom and they were able to change their own world. Give people freedom. Give people a chance. Give people hope. And they'll change the world.

At the end of the discussion, Mr. Brown asked the question, what does it mean to be an American to you? And what I learned and what I became convicted in, what I took a stance on was this. To be an American is to live passionately. Pursue your own manifest destiny. Take a stand and don't be afraid to defend it. Live the life you desire.

Mr. Brown, thank you for teaching me History. Thank you for teaching me lessons I will never forget. Lessons that I can take and apply to the real world. Because that's what a phenomenal leader is. Thank you, Mr. Brown. I really appreciate it.

Savannah Lorcher

Empathy towards Christ

*Please note that the question at the end of the post is open to interpretation. This post is different from my other ones where I give my answer (I'm trying to get away from that), but I want you go ponder the answer for yourself.*

*Another note. Go look up pictures of this world. Some of my own can be found on my Instagram (savannahlorcher) or here. Christ is our King. Our triumphant Savior. Ponder these principles as you look at this pictures of our universe. It is humbling.*

Hey guys. Let's talk about this depiction of Christ  for a minute. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I often see this 

painting. A picture of Jesus Christ looking serene. Calm. Peaceful. Filled with the Holy Ghost. Rarely do we see a picture of Christ smiling. But I love it. From what I've learned through my personal studies and prayers, Christ is a joyful being. Because Christ was born, we can experience great joy. "Joy to the World! The Lord is come. Let Earth receive her King." Get it now? Let Earth receive her King.

 HELLOOOO. That is our galaxy (part of it, anyways). YOU BELONG TO THAT. Take a deep breath. Christ is our king. Christ made that. He made this awesome piece of rock that we live on. He made this galaxy. He made thousands more. We have no idea how infinite his power is. All we know is that he is our King. He is our Savior. He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for us. He died on a cross, crucified for you. For me. For all of humanity. And three days later, he rose a triumphant victor over death. So we may be victors as well. 

1. 1. He is risen! He is risen!
   Tell it out with joyful voice.
   He has burst his three days' prison;
   Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
   Death is conquered; man is free.
   Christ has won the victory.
2. 2. Come with high and holy hymning;
   Chant our Lord's triumphant lay.
   Not one darksome cloud is dimming
   Yonder glorious morning ray,
   Breaking o'er the purple east,
   Symbol of our Easter feast.
3. 3. He is risen! He is risen!
   He hath opened heaven's gate.
   We are free from sin's dark prison,
   Risen to a holier state.
   And a brighter Easter beam
   On our longing eyes shall stream.
   (Hymn number 199 in the English LDS Hymn book)
   
   Deuteronomy 6:5
   Moroni 10:32
   Matthew 5:43-44 (keep in mind Mosiah 2:17)
   John 3:16
   John 15:13
   John 21:15-17
   1 John 4:7-21
   Alma 5:26
   Moroni 7:47
   Moroni 8:16
   
   
   
   
   
   So my question for you today is, why don't we show empathy for Christ? 

Look Around! Look around at how Lucky We are to be Alive Right Now

This hymn really describes what I'm experiencing right now.

1. If you could hie to Kolob

1. In the twinkling of an eye,
   And then continue onward
   With that same speed to fly,
   Do you think that you could ever,
   Through all eternity,
   Find out the generation
   Where Gods began to be?
2. 2. Or see the grand beginning,
   Where space did not extend?
   Or view the last creation,
   Where Gods and matter end?
   Methinks the Spirit whispers,
   "No man has found 'pure space,'
   Nor seen the outside curtains,
   Where nothing has a place."
3. 3. The works of God continue,
   And worlds and lives abound;
   Improvement and progression
   Have one eternal round.
   There is no end to matter;
   There is no end to space;
   There is no end to spirit;
   There is no end to race.
4. 4. There is no end to virtue;
   There is no end to might;
   There is no end to wisdom;
   There is no end to light.
   There is no end to union;
   There is no end to youth;
   There is no end to priesthood;
   There is no end to truth.
5. 5. There is no end to glory;
   There is no end to love;
   There is no end to being;
   There is no death above.
   There is no end to glory;
   There is no end to love;
   There is no end to being;
   There is no death above.
6. Text: William W. Phelps, 1792-1872

Guys. This piece of rock that we live on is SO RAD. Infinite. Eternal. A testament of Christ's power. Of God's existence. Of his love for us. HOW CAN YOU DENY THE EXISTENCE OF A GOD WHEN YOU LOOK OUT AT THIS WORLD. HOW. God is so good. God is infinite. His love is eternal. Christ's atonement is redeeming. His love saves us. God loves you. He loves me. 

Look around. Look around. At how lucky we are to be alive right now :). 

Sav

Today I was Human

Today, I found my music. In the bottom hand right hand desk drawer in the dining room. Today I cried. Today, I messed up while leading the music. I had a 3/4 song stuck in my head but I was leading a 4/4 song. It's kind of hard to lead 3/4 in a 4/4 instance. Today, I stabbed myself in the eye with my mascara. Today I tripped on my maxi skirt as I stood up. Today, I read my friend's blog and felt loved. Today, I missed my friend. Today, I had garlic bread. Today, I got angry at a child and used a loud and angry tone at him. Today, I ate brownies. Today, I talked to my best friend. Today, I read the scriptures. Today, I made a decision to try something new. Today, I got stressed about math. Today, I played Quiddler with my brother. Today, I spoke Spanish. Today, I laughed because my friends are funny. Today, I missed my friends. Today, I felt nostalgia. Today, I felt shame. Today, I listened to good music. Today, I developed a talent. Today, I was vulnerable.

Today, I was human.

It Hurt. It Was out of Love.

I really need to be doing school. I have a literary analysis essay due, along with a module quiz for Biology, and 30 pages in Last Best Hope, along with a video lecture. I'm drowning. But this is important.

You know that pain that hurts so much that instead of working it out, you simply swallow it and distract yourself? Yeah well. You could say that's me. This morning was the first time I had cried in four weeks. If you know anything about me, you should know that that is not me. I cry. A lot. I cry because I'm laughing too hard, because I climbed a mountain and I look over a beautiful vista. I cry because I received a 100 on a assignment I thought I would barely pass. I cry because I love my friends. I cry because I miss my friends. I cry because Peanut Butter tastes so good. Well. Before today, I hadn't cried in four weeks.

Some of you might know about the Interpersonal Analysis Form for Social Leadership (a class I'm taking offered at Williamsburg Academy). I got mine back last week. Ouch. I thought I was a good friend previous to that critical feedback.

I received a 6/10 on "Listens to Understand". Hopes and dreams: dying.
Respects/tolerates People different from him/herself. 7/10. Hopes and dreams: critical condition.
Aware of how others perceive him/her. 6/10. Hopes and dreams: dead.

The feedback I received was good. I've been improving. But it hurts. It was out of love. I wanted nothing more than to get on a airplane and hug these people. I don't think they know how much I love them. Even when I hurt them and they hurt me. I get hurt because they love me. I hurt them because I love them. Isn't that what friendship is?

The hot tears falling down my face; I thought they would never stop. But they did. Eventually. It felt good. Did you know that you cry as a natural "cool down"? We think we cry because we're sad. Well we do, but there's a scientific reason behind that. If we continued to feel sad without crying, we would work ourselves to a hysteria and it would effect us physically and mentally. Tears are a way for us to channel out emotions out of your body. It's an emotional cool down. So crying is good. (More can be found about this here). 

I hurt. I joy (incorrect grammar. But sometimes you have to write it as it is).

Christ loves us. I know that. I love him.

Rejoice, brother and sisters. There is hope. :)

Savannah

Jumbled and Confused and Messy and Sad

Well it's currently 12 am and I'm wide awake and I feel totally alone and abandoned, and I know I'm not. But it certainly feels that way. I don't understand people. Like I do. A lot; and I love people. A lot. But I don't. I don't understand myself; but I do? Is my entire life a question? Recently I read an article on whether or not our life is a simulation. It's messed with my vibe.
I feel like I should give a perfect answer like I always do in my posts. But I literally have nothing. I'm not going to post this link on Facebook or Twitter, or tell people it's up. I'm just writing for myself and if someone sees it, that's great.

I want to be happy, but I don't know how to obtain that happiness for myself. Ugh. I don't know. I feel friendless. A huge part of my happiness in this experience is my friends. Since I have none here, I depend on those back at home. Kinda sucks when you feel abandoned by them, too. I don't know what my plan is for the future. I LOVE PLANS. But what is a plan? Is it forcing your will upon God's and then expecting him to comply? What even is a plan?

I want to go hug all my friends and tell them it will be okay and that I love them, but currently the only thing I can hug is my pillow and text my friends. Like one of my friends poetically stated, "distance is stupid." 2,000 miles is really far. This post is so disjointed and messy and makes no sense at all. Kind of like me.

God, will you teach me how to be happy? Will you show me the way to happiness? Friends, will you show me you love me? Can I show you that I love you? Mom and Dad, can you show me the way to go? Can I support you? Trenton, Mazie, Benson, Zoe, can I lead you and show you the way? Can I set a good enough example for you?

God, will you lead me?

Savannah

An Act of Pure Will

A meaningful and thought provoking discussion I had with a dear friend of mine lately has been entertaining my thoughts for the past two days. Among the many things we talked about, we talked about the meaning of love, and most importantly Christlike love. My friend asked me what I thought the definition of love was. I did not know, so I asked him in return. He told me how one time he had been asked this question by a member of the Church much older than him, and he, like me, wasn't very sure. He said that the man said that love was "an act of pure will that expects nothing in return." After we had thought about this for a little bit, we were both taught a very simple yet profound truth about the Savior's atonement. The Savior's atonement was an act of pure will that expects nothing in return. Think about that. Pure will. Christ knew that his pain and his suffering was for the good of all mankind. Pure will. He submitted himself to the abusive treatment, pain, suffering, and harassing his atonement would bring to him. Yet he also knew the blessings we would receive as well.

While watching General Conference, I have set aside a page of notes to write down words or phrases that describe the Atonement to me, that are inspired or quoted directly from the General Authorities. They are:

Willingly
Voluntarily
Loving
Generosity
Redeeming
Liberating from sin
Mercy
Sacred
Inviting
Profound
Purifies
Passage back to our Heavenly Father
Hymns of rejoicing and praise
Blots out our sins
Manifestation of love
Suffering no more
Inviting to happiness

I have no doubt in my mind that tomorrow will bring another flood of words that describe this sacred act, and I encourage you to write down your thoughts about Christ's atonement the remainder of this General Conference.

Thank you, God, for loving me. Thank you for sacrificing your son so I may return. Thank you. I love you.

How Fast?

Whenever I go to write a blogpost, I always put the title of the post first before even writing out my thoughts. Why is this important? I don't know it's just very amusing to me. While I'm writing, I will change the title but I'll always put the title first, not last. Weird. I'll stop rambling now.

Believe it or not, this post has a purpose. My initial ramblings might have mislead you, but believe me, I have a purpose. It is this. How Fast? How fast does our life change? One of the lesson's I've learned these past three months is that our life changes according to how much we listen to the Spirit. Let's rewind to about two years ago, 2014.

April, 2014.
 CCCC Southwest States Tour. I was 12 years old, and touring with my Choir across the Southwest States. Where did I see myself in two years? Finishing up middle school, a excellent musician, popular. Classic 12 year old. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life. I just kind of figured whatever was supposed to happen would happen and it would all be good.






It was fun :D.

December 2014
Next stop, Guinness World Live Nativity. Me and a few friends went up to help break the record. We ended up meeting quite a few Youtubers, which was rad. I didn't have many friends. I had started LANV that fall. I was awkward, but what 12 year old isn't? This was by far the highlight of the year. So many memories. Like the Choir Trip in April, I didn't have a sense of direction.





I don't even know that this ^ picture is XD.

Fall, 2015
 Start of Freshman year. I had just skipped a grade that summer. One word to describe me: stressed. I was hoping to get a lot out of the year, since I was starting seminary as well. A month into the year I was bored, tired, lazy, and ungrateful.


My Haiti trip, December 2015.
This trip was undeniably orchestrated by God's hands. Many things happened on this trip that changed my life and the life of my entire family. They are:

1. I developed a sense of overwhelming gratitude, happiness, and fulfilment. These orphans taught me how to be happy, how to serve and love, and they strengthened my testimony in Christ.

2. We met Americans living in Haiti, doing humanitarian work. My mom LOVED the idea. Previously, we had tried applying for jobs in Hawaii, but it never worked out. We needed to be in Vegas. But after this trip, it was very evident to my mom that we needed OUT of Vegas. So after meeting these families, she called my dad that night and said "You should really look into international teaching jobs. I think it would be fun."

3. This was my first taste of being immersed in nature, service, and complete selflessness. I also got my first taste at international travel, and from then on I was HOOKED.

Now, I know what I love. I have a pretty good group of friends, I'm changed. I did pretty good in my first semester of High School.









Late March, 2016
We buy the plane tickets to Costa Rica. It's official, we're going. We start the process of finding rental homes, getting rid of possessions, and figuring out legal documents, etc. There's no turning back no. I tell all my friends, and it's hard. Really hard.

May, 2016
My first Elevation. I'm not going to say much, only that it was life changing and I wouldn't change that experience for anything in the world. So many new friends, so many new experiences. I learn more about myself, the things I love, and about God. I learn more lessons and principles that helped me become the best I could ever be.







June, 2016

We move. We move. To Costa Rica. AHHHHHHH. Just. Life is so different. My way of thinking is so different. My style of life is so different. I don't really know how to explain it. You just have to be immersed in my life to truly understand. If you had asked me two years ago if I thought we were going to Costa Rica, I would've laughed in your face. Lessons I've learned so far:

1. Jesus Christ loves me more than I know.

2. Service is the way to happiness.

3. Nature is my best friend.

4. My family is actual kind of cool and I really enjoy them.

5. Adventure is radical.

6. I am rich, and I am ungrateful for my prosperity.

7. Living life on purpose is so beautiful.

Things that have happened here that have changed me:

1. Spending majority of my Sundays serving.

2. Not having a piano has made me appreciate my talents a lot more.

3. Becoming Class President in two of my classes has given the greatest opportunity to make new friends and practice leadership skills.

4. I have found a second family, my Williamsburg family. My people. They teach me the culture of belonging.

5. I have become completely vulnerable to hurt and pain, but in doing so become abundantly open to happiness and true friendship.

6. Spending excessive amounts of time in nature has allowed me to feel a direct extension of God's love and power.

7. Being covered in mosquito and spider bites has made me appreciate my health.

8. Last but not least, I have come to learn that hard work, faith, perseverance, and a testimony in Christ will bring you unfathomable happiness.

So I have a question for you. How fast? How fast will your life change? Will you listen to the promptings of the spirit as it seeks to guide you? Will you sacrifice for God's kingdom? Will you diligently search the scriptures and pray for an answer to your problems and tribulations? Will you leave yourself open to deep, vulnerable, and loving relationships? Will you lead? Will you expand? Will you live without regrets; will you live on purpose? Will you follow Christ?

Savannah

Epiphany - A Guest Post by Dallin Ward

I used to think that when I had an epiphany or came to a new understanding of truth, I had finally come to the end of a journey and all of my problems regarding that issue would be solved. Now I am learning that such is seldom the case. It is true that one journey has ended - that's what the epiphany was - and it's also true that such an end in thought is a call to greater living. This means that instead of just understanding truth, I am now challenged to apply it to my life.

This can hurt a lot.

I've had this experience with the concept of love for the last few years, and specifically the last few months. Years and years of thinking and searching and trying to understand led me to some fantastic epiphanies and truths about love, and I feel like I understand it really well. Applying it has been quite a struggle. Love hurts sometimes. That's something I might not have been able to tell you a year or two ago. Trust me, it does. The great thing about love though is that it doesn't stop being love even when other people suffer because of loving action. Wrestling taught me about this.

For a long time, I believed that to wrestle with love was to never hurt anybody else. I thought that I couldn't wrestle really aggressively and physically and lay a beating on the guy across from me and still love him. It turns out that this is false. God never said to never hurt other people. In fact, He tells us in Proverbs that the wounds of a friend are faithful (Proverbs 27:6.) Faithful. How can that be?

It took me a long time to understand, and I could explain it to you. I'm not going to, however. I'm getting distracted from my original point. :)

The original point, and what I really want to end on, is this:

Epiphanies are the bugles of war. Once you understand greater truths, there is no turning back to the way things were before. You have something better to live for, and if you don't live for it great calamity will fill your soul. To live truthfully is a fight; a battle that can only be won because Jesus Christ is fighting too. He wants to bring you home.

Will you fight with Him?

Dallin is a friend of mine :). You can find his blog here: http://thoughtsofasimpledreamer.blogspot.com/

Living A Purposeful Life and Harboring Meaningful Relationships

Something I've been thinking a lot about lately. How do you live a purposeful life? How do you develop and harbor meaningful relationships? Well. I didn't know for a while. And I'm still figuring it out. But I think I've got it.

You live a purposeful life and harboring meaningful relationships by leaving yourself vulnerable. Completely, 1000% vulnerable to pain, depression, resent, shame, and anger. You open yourself up and let people see who you really are on the inside, when all your walls are down.

Now hold on a minute before you kill me. In today's society, being genuine and free and raw is so looked down upon, shamed and considered for naught even, that people are afraid to do it. They see those qualities as weaknesses, that we need to be strong and independent, that no one can help us and see us safely home. (NOT. TRUE). To truly defeat your enemy, you have to expose him. But you're not just exposing your pain, and fear, and insecurity, your determination and lack of motivation.  You're also exposing your confidence, your courage, your strengths. You're exposing your usefulness and potential. You expose everything. You expose the good and the bad, because to have a true meaningful relationship, there has to be trust. Trust that they'll support you. Trust that they'll build you up. Trust that they'll take you as you truly are and make you better. Trust that they'll protect you when you can't stand. Trust that they'll support you in your passions and interests. Because without trust, a relationship is nothing.

And ya know a cool thing that happens when you leave yourself vulnerable to this intimate relationship? You become a better person. You're able to find yourself. Think about it. You're opening yourself up to others, but before that happens what does? You have to come to a conclusion with yourself. You say to yourself: "Hey me. Listen up. I want to make meaningful and intimate relationships. But it's gonna be hard. And you've gotta be okay with that. You've gotta push through and be the best friend possible. You gotta be authentic. And it's gonna hurt sometimes. But suck it up and deal with it. I'm going to open myself up completely to pain. But also to possibility and joy. It'll be worth it. Trust me."
And in one move, you just proved to yourself you can do hard things. You discover who you are when you open yourself up to World; because in the process you open yourself up to you.

Let your heart lead you. You know what you really want on the inside. And if you let your heart guide you, not your head, you express your truest and realest emotions, dreams, visions, thoughts and epiphanies, and hidden talents.
"Follow your heart and intuition. Because they somehow already know what you truly want to become."
-Unbroken, Motivational Video

You know what's another word I feel should be brought up in this equation? Empathy. The official definition of empathy is,

1. 1:  the imaginative projection of a subjective state into an object so that the object appears to be infused with it
2. 2:  the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also :  the capacity for this

 Powerful, huh. Part of this puzzle is being able to understand others. Be able to mourn with them. Be able to rejoice. Be able to serve from your heart. And oh how powerful empathy is.
"Empathy is really the opposite of spiritual meanness. It's the capacity to understand that every war is both won and lost. And that someone else's pain is as meaningful as your own."
-Barbara Kingsolver

Another thing-be fearless! Don't be ashamed or afraid to mess up. Don't be so worried about staying strong that you close yourself off again. Faith is the antidote to fear. Fear is fatal to faith. I promise you that if you turn to God in your journey for meaningful relationships, he will give you the strength and faith to carry on. He, himself will carry you.
"Fear kills dreams. Fear kills hope. Fear, put people in the hospital. Fear can age you. Can hold you
back from doing something that you know within yourself that you're capable of doing; but it will paralyze you".
-Unbroken, Motivational Video


Now, about living a purposeful life. It's all about finding what you love. And not only finding it. Pursuing it. Making your passions a reality and a solid foundation for you. It's about serving. It's about loving. It's about developing talents. It's about solid education. It's about adventure. It's about getting out of your comfort zone. It's about doing your best. It's about having faith in Christ. It's about humbling yourself before him. Asking for strength. Christ will give you purpose.


That's all I have for you guys today. You'll notice I didn't write nearly as much on 'Living A Purposeful Life', but that's because I honestly believe that finding those intimate and loving relationships will give you a purpose. It'll give you something to live for. To expand for. Gah. I love all of my friends. I love my family. I love every single person I've ever come in contact with. There is not one person I have met that I haven't found at least one thing to love about them. Isn't that so cool? We are all beautiful.

I hope you guys got something out of this. I know I did. I learned a lot about myself, too. Thank you to all of the people who inspired me to write this. I'm so grateful for you and can't imagine where I'd be without your love and support.

I hope you guys have a great day. I hope you are happy.

Love,
Savannah

Your Name

Greetings, fellow humans. It's been an eternity and a half since I've last written, and I apologize. But I'm back again with a cool experience I've had concerning my name, inspired by a brilliant friend of mine.

On Sunday, my friend Emily posted a picture of her name, followed by the meaning of her name underneath. She continued to insert her middle name and last name as well. The question that had been asked was, 'Are you living up to your name?'. Intrigued, I did this on my own name. I was shocked by the results.

Savannah
Create
Expression (public speaking, acting, writing, singing)
Loves and values beauty
Competent
Practical
Often obtains power and wealth
Successful
Achiever of great material dreams
We can focus too much on our business and achievements that we can neglect our personal lives and relationships

Sue
Lead
Organize
Supervise
Achieve status, power, wealth
Passionate
Compassionate
Intuitive
Romantic
Magnetic Personality
Humanitarian
Broadminded and generous
Follows professions that serve humanity
Can be imposed on
Falls in love quickly
Hurt quickly
Quick tempered


I was shocked by the results. They perfectly described me, and I even though they described me I was lacking in some areas. I realized I could more fully live up to my name. I had always somewhat resented my name. It felt weird on my tongue, and I didn't feel like it fit my personality as a child. (I was very strong willed, imaginative, and wild). But now, as I've grown up and molded into my more mature, wise, and strong personality, I see that my name really does fit me. My parents either knew I was going to have this personality, or the name they granted me shaped it. Who knows? All I know is that it was a frickin radical experience and I encourage everyone to do it, to discover themselves more fully and achieve more with the power that their name gives them.

Here is the link to the website I used:
http://www.sheknows.com/baby-names/

Peace out, homies

Savannah

The Hiding Place - Corrie ten Boom

Just a few hours ago, I finished one of the most phenomenal books in existence, in my opinion. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. The Hiding Place is the account of Corrie and her sister Betsie during WWII as she joins Holland's underground, assisting and hiding Jews, even in her own house. However, she is found out and she, her sister, her father, her other sister, and her brother in law are taken to prison. There, everyone is released except for Corrie, Betsie (the sister), and her Father. Corrie and Betsie are faced with horrific challenges and trials, plagued with the unimaginable. Yet they still remain human, filled with the Love of Christ as God assists them and strengthens them in this time of need. Again and again, God's tender mercies shine through and allow them to study the Bible without it being reported, spreading the word and love of God throughout the Camp, the message that God's love runs true.

Below are a few of my favorite quotes that struck a chord within me. I hope you too will ponder them and perhaps write them down somewhere, so that in times of need you too may feel the love and hope of Christ.

• “This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.” 

• “Do you know what hurts so very much? It's love. Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain. There are two things we can do when this happens. We can kill that love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel.”  

• “In darkness God's truth shines most clear.”  

• “Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.”

• “Dear Jesus...how foolish of me to have called for human help when You are here.”

• “If God has shown us bad times ahead, it's enough for me that He knows about them. That's why He sometimes shows us things, you know - to tell us that this too is in His hands.”  

• “Love is larger than the walls which shut it in.”  

• “Perhaps only when human effort had done it's best and failed, would God's power alone be free to work.”  

• “Father sat down on the edge of the narrow bed. "Corrie," he began gently, "when you and I go to Amsterdam-when do I give you your ticket?"
  I sniffed a few times, considering this.
  "Why, just before we get on the train."
  "Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need-just in time.”  

• “All through the short afternoon they kept coming, the people who counted themselves Father's friends. Young and old, poor and rich, scholarly gentlemen and illiterate servant girls—only to Father did it seem that they were all alike. That was Father's secret: not that he overlooked the differences in people; that he didn't know they were there.”  

• "No pit is so deep that God is not deeper still”  

• "No hate, Corrie, no hate."

• “If the Gospels were truly the pattern of God’s activity, then defeat was only the beginning.”  

• “One day as Father and I were returning from our walk we found the Grote Markt cordoned off by a double ring of police and soldiers. A truck was parked in front of the fish mart; into the back were climbing men, women, and children, all wearing the yellow star. . . .
  
  "Father! Those poor people!" I cried. . . .
  
  "Those poor people," Father echoed. But to my surprise I saw that he was looking at the solders now forming into ranks to march away. "I pity the poor Germans, Corrie. They have touched the apple of God's eye.”  

• “Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength - carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

• “Books do not age as you and I do. They will speak still when you and I are gone, to generations we will never see. Yes, the books must survive.”  

• “Corrie, if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love! We must find the way, you and I, no matter how long it takes.”

• “The Gestapo chief leaned forward. I'd like to send you home, old fellow," he said. "I'll take your word that you won't cause any more trouble."
  
  I could not see father's face, only the erect carriage of his shoulders and the halo of white hair above them. But I heard his answer.
  
  "If I go home today," he said evenly and clearly, "tomorrow I will open my door again to any man in need who knocks.”  

• “The real sin lay in thinking that any power to help and transform came from me. Of course it was not my wholeness, but Christ’s that made the difference.”

• “Happiness isn’t something that depends on our surroundings, Corrie. It’s something we make inside ourselves.”  

• “Whatever in our life is hardest to bear, love can transform into beauty.”

Savannah

Time is of the Essence // Patience in Eternal Things

So this is my first real 'adventure' post, telling you a little bit about what goes on in our life. But as always, I must put a moral and lesson at the end of it. Typical.

Today was Trenton's 11th Birthday. The plan was to go to the Temple, and then go swimming. So at 8:30, we hopped on a bus and headed to the Coca Cola Bus Station. An hour later, we arrived. We hopped on another bus, headed to Heredia, where the Temple is located. TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER, we arrived. Throughout that entire three and a half hours (spelled out for emphasis), the thought "Time is of the Essence. Time is of the Essence" pounded through my head, almost obsessively. I was mad, hot, numb from sitting on such a hard surface for so long, and sorry for my brother, as he was spending his birthday inside a public bus. Not fun. I wondered WHY IN THE WORLD THIS WAS TAKING SO LONG. Why, as we are traversing to the House of the Lord, were we having such bad luck? Why was this happening?

When we finally arrived at the Temple, we were famished. Three hours in a bus will do that to you. So we walked around looking for a Soda, a traditional mom and pop restaurant. After a half hour of walking, we couldn't find ANYTHING. So we popped in at a supermarket, got some bread and soda. Nutritional 101. However, that didn't fill us up, so we stopped in a super expensive restaurant, as it was the only other thing around. After an over priced, not so good meal, Dad announced that the Temple closed at 1. And it was 12:45. It didn't open again til 5 in the evening. I wanted to cry. We decided to resort to plan #2. The swimming pool. Unbeknownst to us, there was no swimming pool in Heredia, even though Google Maps said so. So we stopped at the Family History Center to fill up our water bottles. Then we hopped on a bus back home.

We had this plan, to get off before Coca Cola and catch a bus to El Curio, about a mile from our house, so we could save about an hour. But our bus never came. So we caught one to San Antonio, three miles from our house. The entire trip home took about 2 hours. I had no idea why. We tried to go to the Temple and worship the Lord, it didn't work out. We tried to do a wholesome recreational activity. It didn't work out. We ate food to not die at a ridiculously expensive price. We tried to celebrate Trenton's birthday so that way his day didn't completely suck. It took a lot longer than it should have.

As I was sitting in my bed, exhausted, frustrated, and confused, a thought came to my mind. Sometimes, when we try to obey the Lord and follow his commandments, the World tries to defeat us. It beats us down and throws us around like we're nothing. It tries to convince us that it's not worth it. The Gospel isn't true. But it is. And God always wins. And sometimes it's okay to fail doing God's work. Because it tests us. It tests our faith, our love for God. So we have to have patience. Patience in Eternal Things. Because in a eternal perspective, a flop of a day is nothing. A mere blink of an eye. If that.

I thought my day was wasted. I thought I had been unproductive, and not learned a single thing. But I did. I learned that time is only wasted if you let it be wasted. Even if your time does not produce fruits of goodness, you always learn something. The other thing I learned is that you must, you MUST, have patience in Eternal things. When you say a prayer, God doesn't always answer immediately. Sometimes it's okay to fail doing the Lord's work. Because you never really fail. When you are with God, God is always with you. And God. Always. Conquers.

Savannah

Regret

Hi yes, it's me, and I'm back again. Like 5 hours later. BUT I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS SPINNING AROUND IN MY HEAD AND I NEED TO ORGANIZE THEM. NOW.

Today I would like to talk about regret. Regret is a horrible thing. It eats you up from the inside out and makes your heart ache. The regret I've been feeling mostly these past two days is from my first year of Highschool, Freshman year.

For those of you who don't know, I attended Williamsburg Academy in 7th grade, then skipped 8th grade and jumped straight into High School. Ohhhhh man. At first I was excited, and then my stress levels rose, and rose, and rose. In the first two weeks I had 4 mental breakdowns, and 7 emotional breakdowns, approximately. I managed to make it through the first month alive. I was stressed, slightly depressed, and very anxious. I did however, conquer my fears and limitations. I grew to be a better person. But I was so focused on my Education, that I didn't even think about making friends. Not once. Looking back, I didn't want to make friends. I just wanted to survive.

So that's what I did. I merely survived. Before I move on, let me just say, NEVER, EVER, E V E R, MERELY SURVIVE. LIVE. THRIVE. LEARN. GROW. EXPAND. MEET NEW PEOPLE. Thank you. That is all.

Anyways. I studied for midterms and finals. I did my assignments and got A's. I made it into a few class presidencies. I learned, somewhat. But I didn't take full advantage of what I had. Beautiful lessons. Beautiful people. Beautiful opportunities. I wasted it all.

Then, at the very end of the semester, I got an email from Ben Brown, one of my amazing mentors. I owe him so much. He basically said, "hey. This is my last semester teaching debate. I would like you to join."
So I did. I had nothing to lose. No friends. Good grades. A free enough schedule. At the very beginning of the second semester, I vowed to expand, not just survive. So I went to debate class. My first impression was, "Crap." All of the popular kids where in that class. People I had merely heard of, yet never met before. I was so scared. But, I made good of my promise, and thrived. My debate partner, Alyssa, is amazing and we are still good friends. She is the first friend I ever had in Williamsburg Academy. When we had our first debate, she asked a fellow debater if he would help us, as he was more experienced. We were productive for about 20 minutes. Then we just talked. That was a good time. Yet I wanted more friends. But I didn't know how to make them. Then, out of the blue, a certain person from this class added me on Snapchat. (I will not disclose names. Sorry :) ). We started talking. One thing led to another, and we became friends. Then I became friends with the previous mentioned debater helper.

So now I had three friends. I had learned a lot and debate was easily my favorite class. I loved it. Then, three days after the school year ended, I reached out to a fellow debater, who had just graduated, on Instagram. I had a question for her, and we had a zoom call. We hit it off. Immediately. Now she is one of my best friends and my roll model. I love her to death.

Then, I went to Elevation. There I met these amazing friends minus Alyssa in person, plus more people whom I love dearly. But most of these people are older than me and have many, many more friends than I do. They have a good group of their 'people', yet I felt kind of like I had butted my way in there. As I was stalking these people and many others I had met at Elevation on Instagram, (yes, chances are I stalked you. I have no shame) I began to feel sad. I had these good friends, but we aren't super close, and they aren't very many compared to the others. (Minus Lils. I love you).
So I got to thinking. What had happened if I had tried to make friends throughout the year? How could my life have changed? How many lives could I have touched? I could've been the leader. I could've gone first, reached out. I could have changed MY life.
But I didn't. And I don't like to say it, but I'm hating myself for it. I want summer to end, NOW, just so I can redeem myself. Prove to myself and others that I CAN make friends. I CAN focus and invest my energy and time into something other than my education and exclude my potential friends.

Now, I would like to say that I do have very good friends in Williamsburg. But NONE of them are in my graduating class. Half of them are graduating this school year. So I'm promising myself now, and throughout the rest of my High School career, that I will surround myself with good friends, who encourage and lift me up. I will reach out to those in need of a friend. I can be a better leader by being a better friend.

So my message and lesson for you today is, don't look back and feel regret. It's better to say, "oops", than "I wish...". Trust me.
Trust me.

-Savannah