He Thought of You

This is a poem that I wrote while I was a "greeny" missionary in Twin Falls, Idaho. For whatever reason, I have felt inspired to post it on my blog. I hope that it may be of meaning or help to someone.

He Thought of You
By
Elder J. Merris

His fists clenched in agony of the pain He sought to bare
Perhaps He saw your face and mine, as He bled and suffered there
He looked at you and pondered, if your soul was worth it all
The blood which drenched His garments, in bitterness and gall
But He rejoiced at the thought of you and all that you are worth
He thought of the chasms you could not cross without Him on this earth
He called upon the Father with perfect love unfeigned
But He knelt alone that night, when His blood dripped like drops of rain

As He stumbled through the streets, scorned by thoughtless men
He lifted his own cross, and thought of you again
There was love in His eyes as nails pierced His gentle flesh
He thought of you and all mankind, and how you would be blessed
Amidst the hostile crowds, He knew each person too
And said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
He could have stopped it all as He hung there on that day
But then He thought of you, and the pains you feel today

He departed from His body, to Heaven up above
Perhaps he met you face to face, and embraced you with His love
And yet we often wonder, and sometimes we forget
The mercy that was wrought for us, so that our needs could be met
And do we always remember Him in moments of despair
The way He thought of each us and that love which we felt there
At the thought of us, He paid the price, that we may live again
And so each day I'll think of Him, the Savior of all men

GRACE

I have given much thought recently to the topic of grace. I feel that it is perhaps the most under appreciated and perhaps more appropriately, misunderstood doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This morning, I studied the topic in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ and found some remarkable and significant teachings regarding this subject. As grateful as I am for revelation received and knowledge ascertained during this time of intent study, I am significantly more grateful for a subsequent experience, which though seemingly insignificant, was in fact a blessing from the Lord in teaching me more about grace than I ever could have learned by reading words on paper alone.
I was late to campus as usual and had little time before University Chorale, a class whose grade is completely contingent on attendance, to grab some lunch. I was standing in the line at Tomassito's when I noticed in front of me a boy who was physically handicapped, yet seemed to posess all other faculties aside from the use of his body. I watched him as he struggled to communicate what it was he wanted, and then, in humiliation grabbed his tray only to spill his food. I was moved by his intent perseverance. My heart was touched as I witnessed this young man, inwardly capable of so much, struggle to make his body work. Despite his very best effort, the task at hand was simply too much for him to complete alone.
Moved by his sincere, yet failing effort, I volunteered to carry his tray for him. I grabbed a fork for him and carried his tray to where he would sit. He expressed gratitude for the help rendered, yet I had greater reason to be grateful in expression of how he had helped me. I felt as if I were walking on sacred ground as I said goodbye to my new friend.
I do not share this story to bring undue attention to myself, for I merely did what ought to have been done. I share it to point to Him who is greatest of all, the Savior and Redeemer of all the world, even Jesus Christ. I can picture a loving Savior and Friend, perfect in every way imaginable to us, watching each of us struggle in our imperfections. He watches with love as we give all that we can, yet continually come short of all that our inner divine potential would allow. He does not acknowledge or tell us of our weakness because he wishes to make us feel inferior or unable, but because he wishes for us to realize that we are not alone and can do all things with His power. I can picture Him walking by our side, lifting us as we fall, stabilizing us when we struggle, and wiping our tears when it seems that all hope is lost. It is in this way that grace is not merely a power, but an event. Grace is the means by which Christ enables us to walk with Him and eventually to walk like Him. It is a power which can only be fully appreciated by those who have given their all, allowing Christ to justly intercede as if to say of our futile but sincere efforts, "it is enough." It is through grace that we come to know the Savior, and ultimately learn to become like Him.
I testify that Jesus' empathy is indeed earned. He descended below all things that He might justly receive the right and power from the Father to lift us above all things. He has given us something better - a sphere of light and understanding which the world cannot give, nor take away. He is my Savior, my Lord, and my King. Above all, He stands ready to receive us with open arms as we are willing to receive Him, and pay the price of all that we are, in honoring all that He gave. He paid a terrible price for every person that we will ever know. He paid an infinite price with His own blood, because we are of infinite worth. It is my hope that we may stand with Him by lifting those around us with love in our hearts. It is my sincere testimony that we will come to know him more greatly from helping others than we ever could by helping ourselves.

Top 10 Reasons to Vote for Chuck Norris for President

I am a little disenchanted with the election this year. I have never bought into the "lesser of two evils" argument that so many seem to readily accept and even advocate. That is why I am going to use my vote as wisely as possible and vote for Chuck Norris. You may think that seems a little radical or crazy, but you won't feel that way after you read my top ten personal reasons that I will be voting for Chuck Norris come this November. Let's start a revolution. Vote for Chuck Norris:

10) Chuck Norris' isn't afraid of weapons of mass destruction. Chuck Norris is a weapon of mass destruction.
9) Chuck Norris is pro-choice - make the choice to get an abortion and he will make the choice to give you a roundhouse kick to the face.
8) Chuck Norris supports the death penalty and enforces it with his fists on a regular basis.
7) The energy crisis would be over - Chuck can power his car for days on a pint of his own urine.
6) Chuck Norris' foreign policy is simple and cost effective. That's because Chuck could easily kick the head off of any foreign leader with one roundhouse kick to the face.
5) Chuck Norris believes in the right to carry concealed weapons. After all, he does everyday just by wearing pants.
4) Chuck Norris doesn't believe that evolution should be taught in schools. That's because natural selection is predicated upon which living creatures Chuck decides to let live.
3) If Chuck Norris were elected president, we could immediately withdraw all of our troops and send Chuck to the middle east to end the war with a few roundhouse kicks to the face.
2) Chuck Norris doesn't need a running mate. His shadow is smarter, quicker, and better looking than Joe Biden or Sarah Palin.
1) John McCain is old. Chuck Norris doesn't get older, he just gets stronger.

A Longing for Home

Well, after realizing that I hadn't written anything for over a month now, I decided I ought to take some time and express some of the feelings I have had recently about life.
I felt impressed yesterday that within every human soul is a longing for our Heavenly Home. Even to the atheist, there is inevitably a longing for something deep within, something that the world cannot give or take away. It is this longing which governs our thoughts, our actions, and our greatest desires. In this life, there seems to be moments in which we become better acquainted with that which we are longing for. They are moments when the divine is within reach, and we realize that we are not feeling something new, but remembering that which we always knew. Even before our glorious reuniting with Heavenly parents and angelic hosts, we may in awesome wonder, consider and taste of that wondrous celestial state even while abiding on a telestial earth.
Can any comprehend what it would be like for one who has been blind to suddenly gaze upon the beauty of a sunset, or to view with awesome grandeur the colors of spring? Can any begin to fathom what feelings and rapture would fill the heart of one who was once deaf and suddenly given power to hear the vibrant sounds of heavenly symphonies or to listen to the melodic sound of a bird? Yet, in seeking to comprehend the grandeur of such, we may only begin to understand what it will be like for each of us to one day return to Father's loving arms. "For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known (1 Cor 13:12)." I long for home.

Stepping Stones

"... deep down in our quiet reflective moments of oneness with Divinity, we know there is no outside force that can steal away our spiritual strength. Every event, every encounter, every disaster, however despairing it may seem to the outward eye, may be met with spiritual success. A temporal tragedy need never result in a spiritual defeat. To the contrary, such "tragedies" have often proven the springboard for a sublime spiritual victory. One man accepts his deafness by excoriating God; another, Beethoven, scores the Ninth Symphony. One woman with loss of sight sees only darkness; another with greater vision, Helen Keller,becomes a beacon to a blinded world. One man responds to his disease with loss of faith; another, Job, declares,"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15)."One man loses his wife and in the process his zest for life; another, Robert Browning, draws ever deeper from the well to pen with compelling passion poetry of divine dimensions. One man may respond to the seemingly disastrous events of life with vengeance and venom; another may respond with humble submissiveness to God's will, an appreciation for life as it is, and a firm resolve to be better. For one, lifes challenges and tragedies become stumbling blocks; for the other, they become stepping stones." - Tad Callister
I feel that in life, I have been anxious to climb to the highest heights of the greatest mountains, but have often found discomfort in the sweat which has lined my brow and the thorns which have pierced my reaching hands on my quest there. Yet, in quiet moments, I find that the journey is what shapes my destination. It is the pain, not the peace, of the climb which beckons me on. In life, it is the blood, and sweat, and tears that make us. "The greater the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly." - Thomas Paine
It has been said that great battles do not make great men - great men make great battles. In looking to the future, I have learned that I decide my destiny. I am the maker of my dreams, and no longer seek to rely on others to make them for me. Let the battles begin.

A Cry for Help

I have been blessed with some wonderful opportunities to serve others this past week. It has been my experience that I learn more through seeking to help others than I ever could by seeking to help myself. Service is the vehicle through which we come to know Christ in ways that intellect cannot grasp. It is how we come to know his nature and character, "For how knoweth a man the Master whom He has not served and who is a stranger unto Him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" It follows that one understand that to serve another is to serve the Master, for as He has declared, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
This past week, I have had the opportunity to help several people, both close to me and some I have never known. Each of them, despite their various situations, needs, and yearnings, seem to share one commonality, they all seemed to cry out for help, and through the blessings of the Holy Spirit, I was given the opportunity and privilege to help each of them.
I was leaving Wal-Mart late one night this past week with a phone glued to my ear, when a woman called out to me "Sir! Sir! Can you help us?" I ended my call and asked her what was wrong. Then, with a desparation that touched my heart, she explained that her grandmother was very sick with a heart illness, and that they were unable to purchase her prescribed medication because they had no money. Her voice was filled with worry and panic as she explained that her grandmother could have a heart attack if she didn't get the medicine soon. I looked to a dear sweet elderly woman sitting in the car with an oxygen mask, and my heart was filled with a pure compassion toward them. I reached for my wallet and explained that I had little to give because of my own financial situation, but gave all that I had, which brought us to $10 short of what was needed. I asked how long they had been asking for donations, and she replied that they had been there for more than an hour and had received nothing. I expressed that I wished I could do more and then felt great satisfaction as I realized that I could. I turned to them and said, "Well, I'm a salesman." I then collected the remaining money in about five minutes. It was interesting that I could tell before I asked someone if they would donate or not. Anyhow, as I brought them the last donation to pay for the prescription, the granddaughter gave me a big hug, and then, her grandmother struggled to open their van door and with great emotion gave me a hug in expression of her gratitude. Experiencing true happiness, I walked away with a greater understanding and appreciation of our Savior's love.
This experience was one of many that I have been blessed with in serving others in recent days. I do not share them in seeking recognition, but rather in humble recognition of the wonder and majesty of God's love which He allows each of us to experience as we seek to serve him by serving others. Of all that I have done, of any accomplishment or endeavor of which I have had success, the greatest joy that I have known has had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with reaching out and lifting others. I have learned through these experiences, that both our Father and Heaven, and His Beloved Son, recognize, and comprehend with an infinite understanding a cry for help. I think of Jesus as He lay prostrate in the Garden, and pled with His Father, "If thou be willing, remove this cup from Me." A Son in unrelieved stress, a Father filled with compassion, stayed the course, and made it through the night together. And then, those most heart wrenching words ever uttered by mortal man, were exclaimed by the Savior on Golgotha, "Eloi! Eloi! Lama sabachteni! - That is to say, My God, My God, why hast though forsaken me?!" The Father did not answer His sinless son's request for help, because He was in that moment, answering the desparate cries for help that man had or would ever utter. This act, accomplished by both the Father and the Son, must serve as the paragon to which each of us must look as we seek to learn of that love which never dies, even that love which passes all understanding. They know when their children need help, and they will bless us with the opportunity to come to know them, their true character, as we respond to the gentle promptings and whisperings of the Spirit, to help those that we come in contact with. I saw that need in the eyes of one I had never known in this life, standing outside the doors of Wal-Mart. I felt that joy, and seek to feel it forever more as I devote my time and talents to serving those around me.

LIVING THE DREAM

Life has definitely been an adventure as of late. As unsure as I am of so many things, I feel great peace and hope that everything will turn out well. It seems that part of our mortal experience is to gain an awareness of how aware God really is of each of us. Just yesterday I wrote a check to pay my tithing even though it is pretty inconvenient at this time. Today, I received notification that I had just received a full scholarship at BYU for the coming year. It's funny, or more appropriately, miraculous how that works.
So right now I am working for a financial fitness center that just opened in Provo called Charted Course. I am really excited to get in at the ground level and anticipate that it will really take off pretty soon as our product is just beginning to hit the market. However, in the meantime, I am looking for a part time job. I'm thinking of applying to the Malt Shoppe on a part time basis. Even though the pay would stink, I think it would be a lot of fun and I could probably score some free food as well. I could also bring back the Malt Shoppe dance parties like we used to have last semester. For those who haven't been there, the Malt Shoppe is kickin' it old school style and has a sweet jukebox. My bro and I decide one night to start randomly dancing in the middle of the place. Then some girls who were there randomly joined in. From that moment on, we started having random Malt Shoppe Dance Parties! It is definitely a tradition which must continue.
Well, that's about all I've got for today. Gotta go live the dream!