Prairie Daydreams

It’s a fairly well known and often taught story.  The woman is caught in the act of adultery and is brought to Christ to be judged and stoned.  Christ’s response: let he who is without sin cast the first stone.  The now very uncomfortable crowd disperses leaving just Christ and the woman who He treats with love and compassion.  This is of course a very abridged version of a very complicated and important story.  There are valuable principles that can be learned about judgment, compassion, and the Atonement.  Please understand, what follows is not a theological essay in anyway but rather, very personal reactions to and struggles that have come from this story. My first reaction has always been one of gratitude and love towards the Savior.   There was no lecture, no degradation. He already knew her heart and her feelings at that moment and spoke what she needed to hear.   When you are truly trying to repent, or pulling yourself back up after you’v...

 How do you describe lonely?  To be alone?  Does it mean to be without company? To be without companionship?  There doesn't seem to be one answer, not even for each individual. It's easy enough to think of being lonely when you are literally by yourself.  No one around.  There were Christmas Days like this when both of my children were gone.  It was miserable.  But other times, not at Christmas, I enjoyed the time to myself. I was alone, but not lonely. Same for eating alone.  I actually love taking a book, music, and headphones and just spending time by myself.  Lonely?  Not a chance.  It's great to have that time to put things aside and just enjoy myself.  No interruptions, no worries, no stress. I had to learn to do other things alone without being lonely, going to the movies, shopping, small things in life that are easy to take for granted.  Some were easier than others.  On that note, you'd be surprised the ...