Flight!

     Life can sometimes be hard. The older I get, the more I realize that it will not get any easier. The number of responsibilities given to me increases; consequently, my ability to meet those responsibilities must rise over time. I once thought that  additional responsibilities meant less time. Time to grow my talents, time to create, time to have fun. Recently I learned that it does not have to be this way.

     

     When I look at myself I see two different sides: the dutiful man who sticks to the script, and the creative man. In Greek mythology, there was a boy named Icarus who was trapped with his father Daedalus inside of a labyrinth. Presuming land routes would be cut off, he told his son that "the sky is open to us, we will go that way." Once the route was decided the boys father made wings in order to escape the walls of the treacherous maze. Before leaving he commanded his son to take the middle route with him; indeed, he explained that flying to high would lead to the melting of his wings, and flying to low would dampen the feathers leading to a watery grave in the ocean. As they soared through blue skies and glistening green waves farmers and shepherds alike looked up, "believing them to be Gods traveling the sky." Then Icarus, "drawn by desire for the heavens, soared higher," and was torched by the sun leading to his death by falling into the ocean.

     Was Icarus's desire to glide to heaven such a sin? He was a dreamer full of ambition; yet it was this same ambition that brought about his death. Still, I believe it would be wrong to say he should have never attempted escape. Without the invention of the wings they never would have had the chance for liberation! So there needs to be a balance between the desire to create and the pride of abusing that creation for selfish causes. The wings were not the sin in this case; it was the selfish motive of using the wings for his own benefit that brought Icarus's downfall. 

     Jesus taught that "whosoever will save his life shall loose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." Long ago there was a family who lived in a cave. In it they felt safe from the dangers of the world. It was there way to survive. The daughter always questioned why. Finally the father realized that living in a cave was not really living at all. Once he awakens to there situation he proclaims "no more dark, no more hiding. Whats the point of all this? To follow the light." Living in a cave is a lot like living for yourself. When a person chooses to save his life, to hide from the dangers of the world, to not create and share ideas, their life will not have the same meaning as someone who shares their knowledge with others. 

So how do we know what activities deserve our time? Christ supplied the answer again; and the way to judge is plain... as the daylight from the dark... for everything which inviteth to do good is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ." Things that invite me to do good, to think better thoughts, to create new things, to laugh, to have joy are from God. I know if I spend my time in his light I will be able to share better thoughts and ideas. Lastly, I will leave with this inspired question; "when our time in mortality is complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own significant contribution to this significant period of our lives?"