What a Lucky (and Blessed) Girl I Am!

I don't usually write about what I did on any given day, but it was such an awesome one that I can't help myself. This morning I was able to go to SUU's graduation commencement. I know, it's kind of funny; I know no one who graduated and I have never attended a class at SUU. But President Monson (the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) was the keynote speaker. Christian watched the kids all morning while I had a date with myself and around 5000 other people. I wanted to be able to say that I was within spitting distance of the prophet, but in reality, I wasn't - plus, spitting on him would not be nice at all. But I was close enough that I could throw a baseball to him. And, of course, I didn't think to bring my camera. But it will be on KUED 7 in Utah next Sat, May 9 at 4:00 PM if you are interested. Here are some of my favorite things he said:

The Past - Learn From It
The Future - Prepare For It
The Present - Live In It
(I will explain a little more about this in Tuesday's post.)

He said to be successful as a human being, it is important to love people, and use things, and not the other way around (use people, and love things). So true!

He reminded us all:
To dream ... the impossible dream ...
To fight ... the unbeatable foe ...
To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ...
To run ... where the brave dare not go ...
To right ... the unrightable wrong ...
To love ... pure and chaste from afar ...
To try ... when your arms are too weary ...
To reach ... the unreachable star ...

(Lyrics from Man of La Mancha)

What a great morning. Then, this evening, I had the wonderful opportunity to go to an alternate commencement. It was hosted by PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and Carol Lynn Pearson was the keynote speaker. And it was amazing. I have always loved Carol Lynn Pearson, since I was 12 years old and read her book "Will I Ever Forget This Day?" That book got me started in journal writing. And I read her book "Goodbye, I Love You" and cried through the entire thing a few years ago. She has a new book out, called "No More Goodbyes", and I was able to talk with her before the meeting started and she signed my book (I bought it there) and I got my picture taken with her (with Christian's cell phone camera, because of course I didn't learn from this morning and I still forgot my camera).She quoted a paragraph from a Martin Luther King, Jr. sermon. Here's where it came from and here is the paragraph:
Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. That’s why Jesus says, "Love your enemies." Because if you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem and to transform your enemies. But if you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption. You just keep loving people and keep loving them, even though they’re mistreating you. Here’s the person who is a neighbor, and this person is doing something wrong to you and all of that. Just keep being friendly to that person. Keep loving them. Don’t do anything to embarrass them. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with bitterness because they’re mad because you love them like that. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies.

She also talked about life being an obstacle course, and we agreed on our obstacles before we were even born. She says, "Bring it on! You volunteered for it." I love love love her. And her poetry. And her books. I could gush forever, but I won't. I'm very happy that today was such an uplifting, inspiring day that helped me remember who I am and why I am here.