Reflections on a Consecrated Life

My thoughts on Elder Christofferson's talk "Reflections on a Consecrated Life"

"...our life on earth is a stewardship of time and choices granted by our Creator."

Gut check time! The five elements of a consecrated life: purity, work, respect for one's physical body, service and integrity. This equals a "pure life." So I ask myself, "Am I living a pure life?"

Purity:
It may not be perfectly pure, but I'm striving each day to make myself just a little better than the day before. I'm trying! The natural man is so easy to wear. He is comfortable and he fits so nicely!

Work:
"A consecrated life is a life of labor." I can only think of my mom. "Jesus as about His Father's business". So what have I been asked to do by the Father? Am I doing it? What am I doing with my "spare time"? I know I've had a LOT of down time trying to get my strength up. I wish that chemo brain hadn't happened to me as I could have learned a lot during those hours in bed. But alas, I was so whacked out on drugs I don't even remember the TV I watched. I can't say I wasted that time, but I sure wish I could have been more productive. I do know that I've created some bad habits that I need to shake. I enjoyed the napping and the programs I watched and it is hard not to just go climb in my bed and fall back on doing something easy with my afternoons.

Respect for one's body:
Eighteen months ago I would have answered this one totally different. I don't even know where to begin with this one. I'll leave most of this to another day, but if it wasn't for the physical body and its death we would be like the children of Satan--stuck! We need to do all that we can to keep it as clean as possible and along with it will go our spiritual body and mind.

Service:
Are we just checking off the hours or are we doing true service? How do we serve the Lord? Are we truly His hands here are earth?

Integrity:
"We see it in the father and mother whose demonstrated first priority is to nourish their marriage and ensure the physical and spiritual welfare of their children. We see it in those who are honest."

Am I honest?

"Hypocrisy is terribly destructive, not only to the hypocrite but also to those who observe or know of his or her conduct, especially children. It is faith destroying, whereas honor is the rich soil in which the seed of faith thrives."

I have a child who throws around this word like it was air. I often wonder how he can look himself in the mirror and then I stop short and ask myself, how I can look myself in the mirror and claim to be a member of Christ's church.

How thankful that this life is about proving and perfecting not being perfect. I have much to learn and much to prefect.