Let the Sunshine In (2-13)

This month St. George was a welcome break from the snow and ice we have been living with for what seems like eternity. I love the sun. This winter we even bought a SAD lamp so I could get some fake sun while sitting at a desk in the cool-colored winter. While in St. George there were a lot of things that maybe weren’t so sunny but that shed a lot of light and knowledge on me.

Half the Sky - KT just read the book and I started watching the documentary while on the treadmill Friday morning. I kept getting a sick feeling in my stomach as I watched the film describe the atrocities perpetuated towards women across the world. Talk about getting some perspective. I don't mean to dismiss my struggles or many of the struggles the rest of us have, but wow - I'm grateful for the struggles I have compared to those of millions around the globe. It is not just the variety of cruel things that humans do to each other, it is the volume. Every person should watch this film series or read the book. We don't want to know about this stuff, but we must know what is happening right now in our world. I keep thinking about the parable of the Good Samaritan and how I feel like the people too busy or in too high an estate to bother with someone who is suffering. If we truly believe that we are to "love our neighbors" then these neighbors need our attention and help.   

Sunshine Lesson: I just had no idea this was going on in the world. Not that I was totally naive, but the sheer volume and breadth of it is staggering. We have an obligation to our fellow humans to at least become aware of the situation and hopefully do something about it.

The Story of Stuff - During our ride to and from St. George and the drive to ZNP, we listened to the book. What I like about it, is that the author describes in detail so many things that we should be paying attention to: our economy that is based on consumption of stuff, how we are treating our environment, what we are putting into our bodies, etc. and does so without coming off as preachy. In fact, she sounds cheerful in sharing this information with us. I just hadn't thought about the components in my iPhone, that they may be toxic, that somebody was paid pennies per day to dig the multiple minerals out of the earth, that workers were exploited to assemble it, and that I will probably just toss it when I'm done with my 2 year contract. That just scratches the surface. I would highly recommend checking out this book or at least going to the story of stuff website to see the 20 minute movie. Don't worry, it won't turn you into a tree-hugger, but it will open your eyes.

Sunshine Lesson: I blissfully ignore this stuff, and try to keep myself off the hook by the fact that we have a recycling can. I need to pay more attention to what I consume, what is in it, where it comes from, and whose hands have touched it along its path to my hands. KT and I are committed to consuming less stuff, reusing/recycling more, eliminating aluminum soda cans, and trying not to use so much paper at work and in our home. There is more, but we have to start somewhere.

The Book of Mormon Girl - I haven't read a book this fast in ages. I have read the blog a bit and thought the book would be interesting. I couldn't put it down. Joanna Brooks is a great writer and I loved how she traced the roots of her Mormon beliefs and reconciles it with where she is now in life. I understand so much better at least one person's struggle to be a little different than others. I appreciate that she told her story and shared her thoughts. She is a believer and a true Christian in how she looks to treat others and to love her neighbors. I know I could take a lesson on loving others as our Savior did. She uses a scripture from the Book of Mormon to summarize what she is trying to say, "and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile." Every time I read the comments section of a newspaper article online, or watch cable news, I am think about how much kinder we need to be to each other. Fear and exclusion are not the answer.

Sunshine Lesson: I want to more fully embrace my Mormon culture and belief, not just the good stuff, but the whole bag. I also feel that there is nothing wrong with asking questions. Additionally, we don't always understand what people are going through around us. I need to do a better job at listening to others and being more inclusive in my views and love for all.

Flight - This film is about a pilot who saves almost all the lives on the plane during a crash. The real story begins to unfold as he wakes up in the hospital. He is an alcoholic and even though he miraculously saved all those people's lives, does that excuse the fact that he was drunk and high while flying the plane? It is such an interesting and heartbreaking film about addiction and the struggle people have with their demons. We were both almost shouting at the TV during one scene where a critical choice has to be made. We are human. We screw up. We also have to face our imperfections and stop trying to conquer them on our own if we hope to heal. This is not a comedy and in full disclosure, this is not a family movie - not even PG-13 so be warned.

Sunshine Lesson: I could do better to understand addiction and other struggles people have in life. That said, choices have consequences that we can't always escape, but if I can finally own my problems, I can hope to overcome them.

Heavy. While we were basking in the sunshine capital of Utah, I felt like we opened up some sunshine on the world around us. Even though it was heavy, I didn't feel weighed down by it. I feel like these experiences have helped us to see what is happening around us. Now we just need to figure out how to act going forward.