Pearls & Perfection Pending

Most of the choices I have had to make in my life have been between right and wrong, or a selection of one option among many.  I haven't often been required to make choices of elimination where I have two great things, but must sacrifice one in order to keep the other.   When I made the decision to apply to BYU, it was an easy choice.  I could choose any university I wanted, but that was the only one I had interest in.  I had always wanted to go there.  My best friends all wanted to go there.  I applied early.  I was accepted.  It was great.  I was anxious of course to know whether I would get in or not, but I never had to act on my back-up plans.   My choice to go on a mission was a little more tricky, but still obvious.  I had wanted to serve a mission from the time I was 15, and although other opportunities presented themselves along the way, like school and boys, when the time came, there wasn't much to think about. ...

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a familiar one to most.  It encourages the fairly basic idea of serving our fellow man and helps us to think about who our "neighbors" are.  Since I was young, I have always read this story relating myself to the figure of the Samaritan.  I need to be the person to take the time to help those around me and to " ...be faithful" and "...succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."   It is important to pray and look for opportunities to serve, especially those who can't help themselves.  This week however, I thought of this parable in a different way than I ever have in the past.  The parable of the good Samaritan can be found in Luke 10:25-37 .  A certain lawyer tries to tempt Christ by asking what he needs to do to inherit eternal life.  Christ, always turning back to the scriptures asks this man what the scriptures tell him.  He replies that the law tells him to l...