Perspective

There's a poem that I've heard probably hundreds of times. And even though I've heard it a lot, I never get sick of hearing it! The Huntsman Cancer Institute has little bookmarks of this all around their facility.

Cancer Is So Limited.

 

It cannot destroy love

It cannot shatter hope

It cannot corrode faith

It cannot destroy people

It cannot kill friendship

It cannot suppress memories

It cannot silence courage

It cannot invade the soul

It cannot steal eternal life

It cannot conquer the spirit

 

 

Instead of looking at all the bad things that can happen with cancer, look at the things that can't happen because of cancer. Perspective is pretty important. You change your perspective, and you'll see the world differently. I changed my perspective about cancer, and it suddenly didn't seem as hard anymore.

 

This isn't directed toward anyone, obviously, but isn't it funny?

 

 

 

 

Here are some more serious pictures.

 

 

 

 

In my opinion, changing your perspective can make everything a whole lot better! It's improved my life and helped me through some of the hardest times.

 

A quick example is reading the Book of Mormon. I've mentioned it before. I decided to seriously focus and study it, not just read through. And from the very moment I started it, reading didn't feel like a chore anymore. Now, I look forward to reading it and I sometimes can't put it down. It's made my scripture study a million times better and has strengthened my testimony as well as improve my life.

 

If you already have a great perspective, good job. Next time you see me, ask me for a high five. If you haven't, I HIGHLY recommend that you do it!

 

Until next time, keep running!

What Makes My Life Better

Last Friday was the Relay For Life. And it reinforced one thing for me:

Having cancer is something that I'm going to have to deal with for quite a while, and the effects for probably the rest of my life. I don't mean that I'm going to be sick for a long time. In fact, I don't even plan on it. What I mean is with checkups, scans, and doctors visits, it's always something that I will think of or worry about in the back of my mind.

And you know what? That's kind of a scary thought. But I'm okay with it, because here are some things I know that makes my life better:

• Because of my family, I don't have to face it alone. I have a family, an AMAZING family. No matter what, they are always there, through thick and thin, and whenever I need someone! Throughout the years, no matter where life takes us, I'll always have the support and love of my family.
• Because of my Savior, I don't have to face it alone. I also lean on my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He suffered for our sins, our sadness, our grief, and every pain we have and will ever feel. So when you say, "No one knows how I feel"... Think again. I never have to face anything alone. Because I am never alone.
• Heavenly Father really does have a plan for me. I know I've said this about a billion times, but I know this to be true. Heavenly Father knows what is in store for me. It may not be what we want, but after it happens, I'll be glad and grateful that it happened.
• Every trial I go through will strengthen and bless me, if I endure it faithfully. I've already seen blessings come about from having cancer. The most I'm most grateful for is that I've had a chance to slow down, take a look at my life and where I want to be, and strengthen my testimony and really get to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father.
• I'm given my trials because I can handle them. We are told that we are not given trials and temptations that we can't handle. (a good scripture to read is this, 1 Cor. 10:13)
• Prayer is a real thing. I honestly love to pray. If you pray faithfully and lovingly, it is just like talking on the phone to your dad. It's a two-way communication, only if you really sincerely pray.
• The scriptures are AMAZING. I've really enjoyed reading, truly reading, and truly loving and enjoying every word out of the Book of Mormon. I get something amazing out of it every time I open it up.
• I am a child of God, and I am loved. I can only imagine how hard it must be to watch the earth and see all the heartache, sadness and pain that Heavenly Father sees us go through. But because He loves us, he wants us to grow and eventually become like Him.
• Miracles still happen. No doubt. I see it all around and even in my life every day.
• Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured. This is a quote from the late President Gordon B. Hinckley. In all you do, don't just "get through" today. Make today count.
• Learn from the past. Learn from the things you've done and grow from it.
• Prepare for the future. Don't just hope that everything will fall into place. God helps us after all we can do. Not after we do nothing.
• Live in the present. This is one I sometimes struggle with. Sometimes I take too much time planning ahead, but really I should be enjoying the moment.
• There's no one better than YOU. There is only one Erik Gray. There is only one (insert your name here). Don't try to be someone else. Be you, and that's the best thing you can do for yourself.

I hope you've enjoyed listening, well... reading, through what makes my life better, and that they can help you! And a lot of what makes life better comes from my beliefs as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So PLEASE, don't be afraid to ask me questions (look on the Contact Me page), or to go to LDS.org or Mormon.org.

Keep running!

Who Am I?

 

No.

 

 

Nope. But sometimes I wish I was sarcastically funny like this guy. 

 

 

Kinda. EG. Get it? (My initials)

 

 

Definitely not.

 

 

 

Okay. That's me. But still- who am I?

 

I'm not alone when I say that I've struggled to find out my identity.

I once talked with someone who helped me to realize who I really am. This is roughly how the conversation went:

Him: "How would you describe who you are?"

Me: "Well, I'm a college student at SUU..."

"No, that's just where you go to school right now." 

"OK, well I'm a runner and I love hanging out with my friends..."

"Those are just the things you do."

"I'm the 4th child and son of Dennis and Jolene?"

"That's who your parents are and how you relate to your family."

"Well then, what and who am I?"

 

He helped me realize that all the things I thought I AM are just things that describe what I do, where I live, etc. Yes, they're good things, but the really true thing I am, and have been since the beginning and will be for the rest of the eternity, is a child of God.

 

And that's really comforting. We all know the Primary song, I Am a Child of God, but I know that sometimes I just take those words for granted.

 

I am a child of God,

And he has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear.

 

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday.

(Hymns no. 301 or Childrens Songbook pg. 2) 

 

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I know that why I'm here on earth can be compared to a father sending off his child to college: He sees his son/daughter go off to college. He's not going to be there with him/her, but he hopes that his child will make the right choices and get that degree and return home someday saying, "Dad, I did my best, and look at all that I've accomplished!" or "Dad, it was hard. But I made it." I testify that we are here firstly to gain a physical body, and second, because it's a test to see how we will act and grow spiritually, physically and emotionally without our Father in Heaven close by us.

 

To wrap things up, I want to bring up what the conversation I wrote about earlier... the things that describe us. And it all depends on how you act in those situations or react to what happens/what you do. The things we've been through and the things we're doing. I'm going through cancer, but do I see myself as just a kid with cancer? No. I see myself as a strong individual that is going through a rough patch right now.

 

I heard a quote once that said, "Mistakes from the past don't define you, they refine you." This applies to trials as well. Do I really want to be known by what mistakes I've made? Well, do you? Of course not.

 

I've noticed in my life that doing the things I love help to change my personality. For example, I love reading the Book of Mormon, playing the piano, watching Netflix, and making things on Photoshop. Because of my health trial right now, I'm spending a lot of time at home. But instead of sit around and think of all the "What if's" I could be doing right now and how depressing things could be, I spend time doing the things I love. It changes my personality and outlook on life. I'm happy! If I sat around and moped, I might see myself as a sick teenager with nothing to do. Because I do the things I love, I see myself as a happy teenager that has lots of things to do that make me happy.

 

The key to finding your identity, that I've noticed, is this:

• Realizing that you are a child of God with the potential to be like Him someday
• Realizing that mistakes and trials don't define who you are, they refine you
• Doing the things you love will change your personality and outlook and how you see yourself

 

 

Thanks for reading. Keep running!