Jealousy (Part II)

I re-read last week's post realized that my spirits were a little down, and I felt a little frustrated. However, this week I have shaken off the frustration, I have felt great, having my usual optimistic outlook on life, the love for God, and the love for my neighbor. I appreciatge people's comments on last week's post and it helped to remember that everyone has moments in their lives when they feel alone, even in a crowded room. Everyone also has moments when they feel on the "outside." This week I took the time to count my blessings and it has been great. I had some great associations with my friends. One friend invited me to play racketball with him, and I enjoyed that challenge. I will continue to work-on that jealousy.

Once in awhile I think my mind or anyone's mind can become clouded and we feel "picked-on" because we have to deal with SSA or whatever challenge. I think of all the trials and tribulations that Joseph Smith went through, but rather than be discouraged or depressed, he was so positive and optimisitic. He once wrote: "Now what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladdness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth."

My second jealousy that I want to mention, that I have had to learn to get under control is the lack of athletic ability. I love to run, swim, hike, etc., but those types of activities don't require the coordination of the many skills on the basketball court. I always shyed away from the big three: basketball, baseball, and football. If I could go back and grow-up again, I would force myself on the court or field and learn to play them. Wait a minute, its never too late to start. I think ask a friend to shoot some hoops with me and give me some pointers. Then I can join ward ball, so what if I'm terrible, so what if I make a point for the other team. Why not face our jealousies, our fears, our weaknesses head-on.

I think that is thing about jealousy. One can either sit there feeling sorry for himself, or he get up off his rear and do something about it. I used to not be too interested in watching the big three on TV, but now I love it, I understand the basic concepts of the games, and I have my teams and players that I cheer-on.

Can we get enough of March Madness? I think not. I look foward to it every year. I love participating in (non-betting) pools, and see how well I guess the outcome. This year has been fantastic. Look at the upsets, Duke was the only number one seed to make it to the final four. I love watching the games, watching the surprises, the athletic ability, and hearing the roar of the crowd. I love wathcing Duke's Jon Scheyer (#30 in the pic) play. What a ball player! He can make those 3-pointers with ease, and he is an incredible offensive rebounder. Whoever thought Butler would make it to the final four, Butler's Gordan Hayward is a very talented guy on the court. It is simply awesome. Who is going to win it all? Duke or Butler?

Anyway, I have taken a long detour, but through my teenage years and so-on there have been times when I have been jealous of friends or other guys that have natural athletic ability that I don't seem to possess. However, I thank the Lord for the talents that I do have, and I have tried to magnify those talents. I believe that each of us may not have a natural ability to do something (such as play basketball), but if we really want to learn it, to become better at it, we can do it. After all each of us are a child of God. We may not be the very best, but we can have fun, enjoy it, and be happy! I think something similar could be said about marriage to a member of the oppossite sex. It may not be natural ability for some, but it can learned, it can fun, it can be enjoyable, and produce happiness.