The Greatest Gift

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.

Proverbs 3:5

I was going to write this next post on unity, or the concept of 'becoming one' -something I consider as one of the most important and all encompassing concepts we are meant to learn in this life; but events and experiences over the last week have led my thought processes in another direction.

...nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself...

Moses 3:17

Over the last two years I've thought a lot about the purpose of this earth life.  I know the basics - to obtain a body, to overcome the natural man, to find an eternal companion, to create families, to build Zion - all of which in certain ways relate to the concept of becoming unified, but I've often wondered about the circumstances surrounding this lesson in unity.  Why is it so important that we learn here on earth, and not stay in heaven?  Why the veil? Why must we be physically separated from a Father who loves us so much?  I've never questioned the necessity of agency, or the need for Christ's plan and sacrifice, but why, instead of being so openly near and available, would our Father choose to be physically away from us during such a trying time in our spiritual development?

It's about TRUST.

During recent experiences I've had to learn to exercise a lot of trust - not only in God, but also in others; trust in their intentions, their feelings, their desires, their agency...

The room to grow is one of the greatest gifts you can bestow on each other.  

Allowing, encouraging, even sacrificing so that they can become all that is in her or him to become--

 [such] generosity is the signature of adult love.

-Kate Baestrop

I am completely awestruck at the amount of trust that our Heavenly Father places in us.  This life is not a test, but a gift.  Our amazing Father is taking a step back - restraining his own feelings, desires, and wants to give us the room we need to grow.  He hasn't abandoned us, but is waiting patiently, arms extended on the other side of the veil...

..and thus does the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him.

Mosiah 29:20

His hand is always extended, but never forced.  He waits for us to come to him, even when he can see that we are struggling - he will always reach our reaching, but we must return his gift of trust and use our own agency to take the step that moves us into his waiting embrace.  Trust, faith, hope, and love can cross any distance, penetrate any veil - unite hearts no matter how physically distant.

I know in whom I have trusted. 

2 Nephi 4:19

I have come to a new level of admiration for our Heavenly Father.  Christ made the great sacrifice of Atonement, and God has made the great sacrifice of true agency.  He maintains a difficult balance between heaven and earth - inviting without encroaching, reassuring without overwhelming, guiding without compelling.   He waits patiently for us to come to him, never denying us but always forgiving, even when we deny him; our anger, forgetfulness, ignorance, and mistrust are quickly forgotten once we make the choice to walk into those eternally open arms.

I will trust and be not afraid.

2 Nephi 22:2

In the Bible's topical guide, Trust is listed as: see also Assurance.  To truly trust in someone brings reassurance; comfort and confidence even in times of uncertainty and sorrow.  It is the fuel that feeds hope, the hope that burns brightly within us and lights our souls.  I am so grateful for that wonderful gift, a gift that I have used and abused and often rejected over the years. A gift that I hope to grow to become truly worthy of.