Dangling Lumberjack

We live in a beautiful home that no one can see. When we first purchased our home nine years ago the landscaping was beautiful and appropriate, however as everything continued to grow and enlarge the landscaping through time has nearly completely engulfed our home. At first we enjoyed the added privacy and seclusion that it brought, but now it is too much, too overgrown and just looks bad.

Well the other night our home was hit by another Farmington wind storm that thrashed the tree branches back and forth into our home and windows, keeping us up all night. This is a common experience as Farmington is always having wind storms. Sandra and I went out side and for the first time really looked at how overgrown our trees have become, many of which were inexplicably planted too close to the house and have since grown into tower monsters extending far past our roof line with no signs of stopping their ascent. We knew someday we were going to be in trouble, that these trees will eventually come crashing down on the house, break through a window or cause significant damage some other way to our home, not to mention they have visually grown completely out of control. So Sandra gave me the go ahead and I pulled out the chainsaw and tree clippers and began playing the part of Paul Bunyan. Little by little I removed trees and thinned the rest until we began seeing our home again. Christian was in town for the Labor Day weekend and helped me cut and pile up the branches and logs along the curb. Hours and hours of work and piles and piles of trees were made all the way along the entire front curb of our property. Exhausted and covered in wood chips we cringed at the thought of having to slowly load this downed forrest of trees load after load into our little Tacoma truck and haul it all to the dump. In passing conversation with our neighbor Paul Underwood he told us that we could hire a giant scrap bin dumpster to be delivered to our home, we would fill the bin and then they would return to pick it back up and haul it away. Sold, so worth it. We called and ordered a bin and they said they would drop it off Monday. We all rested Sunday. 

Monday morning (Labor Day) we all woke up ready for more work. Christian and Hunter left to do Krissy and Zack’s yard (Hunter’s summer job) and Sandra went exercising while the younger two watched TV and Madison slept. Knowing that we didn’t have to haul away the piles ourselves and with the dumpster being dropped off this morning, I decided to go after additional trees that I planned on doing in the future. In other words, I got even more chain saw happy and began cutting and trimming back additional trees. Soon I finished all the trees in the yard with new piles now extending covering our driveway. I now ventured to trim back the two enormous cottonwood trees in our backyard which large branches extended and overlooked the swampy wetlands and trampoline below (we previously already moved the trampoline in anticipation of me trimming these trees).

I climbed up my tall extended ladder and little by little I began trimming back the overgrowth. Higher and higher I ascended determined to cut down everything within reach. Finally, now at the very top of the extended ladder, some thirty feet or so from the ground, I began cutting the last reachable branch. All was going as usual when suddenly the weight of the branch shifted sideways pinning and staling out the blade. The chainsaw was stuck and I was twenty five feet off the ground with no way to get the chainsaw free. With one hand supporting the chainsaw I used my other hand to pull downward on the large branch while my legs were pressed in a wide stance supporting me on the ladder. Then it all happened all at once, the branch broke free, but it didn't fall straight down, it swung down and towards me colliding into my ladder. The heavy weight of this large branch easily pushed the ladder and me out of it’s way. I bear hugged the thick tortuous cottonwood bark for dear life as the base of my ladder was pushed out from under me. My legs continued to press firmly against the side walls keeping me attached to the ladder. When the tree limb finally settled far below me I was left dangling precariously balancing on one ladder leg with the ladder no longer directly below me but to the side of me and rotated away from the tree. I was no longer supported by the ladder. In fact it was only my death grip that was holding me and the ladder up. I assessed my situation. My arms were bleeding. My brow in a cold sweat. I had no way down. If I let go of the tree I would fall. If I tried to descend the ladder I would fall. Simply put, I was stuck. I began sweating and fearing there may not be a way to avoid falling. I begin thinking, maybe a graceful fall wouldn’t be so bad. Then I looked down at the tortuous pile of jagged and fractured limbs below realizing that would hardly be a cushioned, if not impaling experience to land in.

Trapped, I began to yell for help. No one could hear me. Nobody was coming to rescue me. I looked down and again considered my predicament. I’m in a bit of trouble. It was about this time that I realized I was still holding the freed chainsaw and thought to myself, “what on earth am I doing still holding this” and I let it drop, the handle breaking on impact—not unlike my bones might do if I similarly fell. I then had a thought, with my now freed hand I begin patting my pockets hoping I had my phone on me while my other hand continued holding me fixed to the tree. In a spot of good luck, I did have my phone with me. I then carefully retrieved it from my front pocket and dialed my next door neighbors the Erickson's. To my total frustration, the phone kept disconnecting! Apparently I was hitting the ‘facetime’ icon instead of the phone icon—Seriously! Finally it went through, Jeff answered, to which I replied, “I’m in a bit of trouble, could you come outside quickly, I’m about to fall off of a tree!” Bewildered, he rushed out and saw me precariously dangling high a top my twisted ladder. Quickly he began pulling the large branches off the ladder, then he supported the ladder and me as I twisted it back onto two legs then shimmied it back around the tree until I was actual being supported again. With great relief I descended with trembling arms down to the sweet safety of mother earth. I’m alive! I can’t believe I didn’t fall! My arms were all scraped up, but other than that I was ok. I was safe and I didn’t have to fall. I profusely thanked Jeff for coming to my rescue.

Now safely on ground and my pulse having returned to normal, I had to get back to work. I spent the next while hauling off the remaining piles of branches and leaves to our front side curb. The sanitation guy finally dropped off the large dumpster which as a family we quickly filled to overflowing. Instead of moving our trampoline back under the large cottonwood trees as before, we moved it back down into the wetland swap where the kids could jump off the retaining wall rocks down to the trampoline below. The trees surrounding the wetlands have grown in deep and thick so you feel like your in your own secluded forrest when your down on the trampoline. The kids now jump with a renewed interest, already loving playing down there. We are not sure what we will do under the old cottonwoods trees, maybe build a gazebo? The next day they picked up the gigantic bin of trees and it was gone. Our house and property look amazing and my body will heal, so all ends well.

Morals of the story:
* Always be friendly with your neighbors, you never know when you may need them to save your life.
* Priorities: Don't be caught holding a chainsaw when much more precious things hang in the balance.
* Always listen to your wife who said from the beginning--we should hire this out!

The Sweetness of the Lamb

A few weeks ago our Stake Patriarch and one of the sweetest and most honorable men in our ward passed away.  His name was Vince Hess.  He was survived by his brother, Jay Hess and his sister Joyce Hess Lambson, who live in homes on either side of Vince's and were thus all in my ward.  Last Sunday, a few days after the funeral, was our ward's fast and testimony meeting.  Joyce, who has long suffered from a speech impediment, stood up and bore her testimony.  She stuttered and struggled throughout, sharing her gratitude and heartfelt thanks for her brother and the generous well-wishers who had given her comfort in her recent loss.  She also expressed her testimony of God, Jesus and the truthfulness of the gospel.  Her testimony was all the sweeter because of the obvious struggles she bore in verbally expressing it to all of us her friends and neighbors.  

Regrettably, and to the banishment of the precious spirit that Sister Lambson had brought to the meeting, no sooner than did she sit down did an unknown man from an out of town ward boldly stand up and boasted that when he was young he too suffered from a speech impediment, but that through his fervent faith and prayers God in a miraculous spectacle from heaven had healed him from his infirmity, like lightening from heaven he was made whole.  From that moment on he never again suffered from that affliction, in fact, not only was he no longer burdened and weighed down by his physical malady, but in actuality excelled far beyond that of average men.  He then, ad nauseam and in excessive self-praising, gloated of his many accomplishments, publishing, TV infomercials, books, speeches that he was able to achieved due to his mighty faith and unfettered brilliance.  But this was not all, his eructation of his personal excellence continued as he recounted his unwavering faith and resilience as a child as he suffered through an atrocious tragedy.  To which he then provided a morbidly disturbing and graphically accurate rendition of the time he found the remains of his 'demon possessed' mother who had fatally shot herself in the head.  In his triumphant finale, he then professed to have later received, not only a surreal spiritual miracle, but to have received one by the literal hands of none other than the Three Nephites, who had seen fit and absolutely necessary to personally intervene in his behalf!

I can not say that his stories of miracles and manifestations were not true.  I can not say that God or even the Three Nephites did not intervene in his life.  Nor for that matter can I attest to his mental stability.  What I can say, however, is the spirit which humbly bore witness to the testimony of Sister Lambson had fled for cover on the arrogance and self-aggrandizing of this out-of-town brother.  The saddest consequence of this gentleman's boasting occurred a few hours later, as my wife Sandra later relayed to me, in Relief Society.  The lesson was on faith and the teacher in an attempt to repair the apparent, although inaccurate, spiritual implications resulting from this brother's rogue testimony addressed Sister Lambson and mentioned how she admired her enduring and courageous faith carrying this lifelong physical burden.  To which she replied, "I always thought that if I had enough faith, that I too would be healed like that man we heard from today".  Everyone's hearts just ached at her obvious lifelong pain and longing for physical mercy.  Yet, the question remained, 'Why would an all merciful and all knowing God bless this arrogant, self-inflated out-of-towner who claimed meritorious rite and not the sweet and humble local one?  Unfortunately, the meeting was pressed for time and came to an unresolved close.

Upon hearing this heart wrenching and I believe all too common experience, where a honest and humble person who seeks for relief, answers or blessings are left inexplicably denied.  The natural response, similar to that of Sister Lambson's, is all to often an inaccurate inference of being 'spiritually lacking' or 'unworthy'.  'Somehow and for some reason', the thought process continues, 'God doesn't hear my prayers or my pleading, He doesn't concern himself over my pain or my suffering' or that 'I am for some unknown cause out of reach for God's mercy or intercession'.  There are so many among us who suffer in silence.  They are surrounded, at least in belief, by the resounding answers and blessings that a merciful God has poured out upon everyone but themselves.

My mind is taken by two scriptural accounts, that I think is applicable here.  The first is the account of Thomas, one of the original twelve apostles who missed the appearance of the resurrected Jesus Christ and refused to believe unless he too could see:

John 20: 24-29

 24 ¶But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

 26 ¶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

The second account is a delineation of the various Gifts of the Spirit that are poured out individually, with a foreknowledge of God, to each of His children.  To some is given one and to some is given another.  Each enriching and expanding the tapestry of faith for all to benefit and be enriched. 

D&C 46:

 10 And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that are given unto the church.

 11 For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.

 12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.

 13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.

 14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

 15 And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.

 16 And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the aSpirit may be given to every man to profit withal.

 17 And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of wisdom.

 18 To another is given the word of knowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge.

 19 And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed;

 20 And to others it is given to have faith to heal.

 21 And again, to some is given the working of miracles;

 22 And to others it is given to prophesy;

 23 And to others the discerning of spirits.

 24 And again, it is given to some to speak with tongues;

 25 And to another is given the interpretation of tongues.

 26 And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God.

 32 And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.

What I take away from these two accounts, is that each of us in this life are asked to walk our own unique path of faith.  To some are given fantastic spiritual witnesses of truth, to others are given unreel spiritual experiences and miracles, to others still are given exceptional faith, wisdom, or knowledge.  The absence of a desired gift doesn't mean the absence of their reality or the minimization of one's own gift possessed.  One of the least mentioned and acknowledged gifts of the spirit is the gift to believe on the testimony of others.  That is to say, to not receive your own answer, your own blessing, your own miracle in your behalf, or even receive any personal tangible witness of any kind.  It means to simply and humbly just believe.  A belief based purely on hope.  It is a powerful, albeit enigmatic gift of faith.  It requires the possessor to walk forward in darkness, but with a perfect brightness of hope that at the other end they will finally find their anticipated transcendent reward.  Others, lack this type of faith, like Thomas, they must 'see' to believe.  They not only dare not to walk forward in darkness, they can not walk in darkness.  They must have the way illuminated, marked and highlighted in order to proceed.  Contradictorily, the world praises the 'Thomases' who are given great and fantastic experiences, whose grandeur seem to cast ever widening shadows over those who quietly struggle without spiritual manifestations or assurances.  Misunderstood are these things of the spirit, but compassionately understood by Christ, He again declares, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  The out of town brother who boasted of his many spiritual manifestations and feats was not lifting or strengthening the testimonies of others, but unknowingly declaring to us all of his insecurity and weakness of faith that he like Thomas needed to see these physical displays of proof in order to believe.

For all those who walk in the dark faithfully with nothing but hope to light your course, I praise your faith, I acknowledge your sacrifices and unheralded endurance.  The day will come, that every question will be answered, every gift given, every blessing received, and every trial lifted.  How great and marvelous will be your moment when the curtains are lifted and you are seen by all as you are seen by God.