Thursday, May 14, 2009

Trying to Put It All on the Altar

The past several months have taught me – as has thinking through and writing this post – that few of us ever truly do so; most of us, most of the time, are still holding something back, not really putting it all on the altar, not really cutting off the hand. And perhaps that’s a fault of our human nature, the fact that we will always be trapped within our perspective, our subjective self-understanding: maybe we can’t know if we’re actually putting it all on the altar or not. All I can say is that, for now, I’m trying.

Russell Arben Fox - Comment #41 on Auld Lang Sin (By Common Consent)

4 comments:

Pokemon said...

Your statement that we are trapped within our own perspective stuck out to me. My initial thought was how that is so true and in many ways it is but then I thought about how when we are truly striving to put it all on the altar then we will be asking in prayer what that "all" is and God's perspective can become ours. Don't you think?

Thanks for the thought-provoking post.

Papa D said...

Yes, I agree that is the ideal for which we strive. I'm not sure we can get there totally, which is why I think the wording in the sacrament prayer is "willing" - not "succeeding".

I also think the admonition to, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" applies ultimately to judging ourselves, as well. We are told to strive to do our best to repent (to change and grow), and I think the heart of the Atonement is the recognition that even we never end up putting it all on the altar we still are loved and saved and can become like the Father and the Son.

Jami said...

I love that post. Thanks for bringing it to mind again.

Anonymous said...

What an incredible piece of writing.It touched me to the core-so much so that i kind of wish I'd never read it.I really don't want it to be that hard for anyone,but since it is I'm assuming there's an equal grace available.If I have any blessings to give,I would wish to give them to this dear man and his people.I can still say,thank God,that I love both my hands,and I would wish the same blessing on each of my brethren and sisters.