Goodbye 2010 -- Hello 2011

2010 has been a rough year for a lot of people I know. It has been a rough year for us. However despite how rough it is, I learned a lot. Best summed up in a phrase by Heber J. Grant. "It is the pursuit of easy things that makes men weak" This man presided over the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the end of World War One -- Through the Roaring 20's - through the Great Depression - and through most of World War II. Considering that resume, I think the statement is accurate.
I would talk about some of the struggles we have faced this year or even what I may have learned from them, but that would indicate an intent that everyone else needs to learn the same lessons. Those lessons are mine and apply to me and my family because of our unique situation. Instead I want to talk about trials and learning in general.
It has also been said that the blessings, trials, miracles, and sorrows we experience in life are customized each for us to give us each the best possible shot at Exaltation. The extension on this thought is that the blessings, trials, etc. of others, if given to us, may make it harder to get to exaltation, not easier. Yes that assertion includes blessings. Also what may be a blessing for one may be a curse, or trial for another. We see the lives of others from the "looking-glass" of our own lives and our own experiences and so our perspective may be different from others. The film "Eye of the beholder" is a good example. Different people look at the same man all within minutes of each other and all describe him differently. He also reacts to them differently as they are each different to him. It is our differences that make each one of us special and our experiences that give us insight tot he human experience that is unique to us alone. The great part of it all is the conclusions we draw most benefit ourselves and not others.
As we are each unique and special in our own way, often our attempts to "be like someone else" are met with frustration. We can't seem to figure out why that one plan, that one, system, that one bit of advice works for some but not others. Good advice when grounded in good fundamental principles is often always good advice. Execution of the advice we are given, though always varies and by association, the results vary just as much. It is getting to the fundamentals that the advice was based upon and the principles they teach that we should form a plan around and execute it loyally to those fundamentals. The best fundamentals to base them on is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Many different religions have elements of the Golden Rule in them, but execution of the principles or laws derived from the golden rule widely vary. I have found that the temperate laws of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the most in harmony with my own beliefs and experiences. The Beatitudes in particular are a good example. The benefits inscribed is that of inclusiveness without respect to the differences. Humility, meekness, charity are all examples of this. Charity, in particular has been debased by many of the prideful poor as an undesirable trait but I think they misunderstand. Charity is the expression of love unbound of one human to another and most particularly where love is least likely to exist. Christ could have ended the lives of all of his enemies with a single thought but he came to this earth to save them and fully atone for them. If he ended their lives, wherein lay their chance for repentance? Saul of Tarsus repented and later became one of the strongest fighters for the cause. Charity is not limited to handouts any more than Christmas is only about Santa Claus. Charity is love, unconditional and humble love, expecting nothing in return, asking for nothing in advance. It is service, kindness, nurturing, and joy gifted to one in hopes of making the recipients life better. Often what is given is everything the giver has, even their own life as the example of the Savior shows.
Learning the true virtues of godly living, living as He would have us live would be a far better resolution than anything I could come up with and far more reaching. The great part is that it does not shatter with momentary setbacks as He whom is our Exemplar is forgiving to those who are honestly trying and we gain bit by bit those virtues He desires for us. This, when compared with a feeble and narrow weight loss goal, or a goal to achieve a specific goal or task that can be easily lost with one tiny slip, seems much more enduring. Besides shouldn't our resolutions be to make every part of our life better.
I don't know what 2011 will bring. I don't even know all of the challenges I will face. However, I do know that as time goes on, if I will honestly strive to live by the virtues that have been taught me, honestly try to be a better person, and learn of Him, I will face all of my challenges, problems, bad habits, and difficulties and gain the power I need to conquer them. To flip President Grant's statement upside down, which also paraphrases Ether 12:27 It is the pursuit of hard things that make men strong.