The Temple

picture from here

On Saturday evening, Dan and I attended a session at the Manhattan LDS Temple. In there, we are able to serve the Lord, and remember the covenants we made previously. The thing I love about the temple is the peace that is there inside. Especially here in the Manhattan Temple.

You take a crowded subway downtown, most likely hearing various profanities, bad music, and experiencing just the general hustle and bustle of the city. That thing that exists here that makes you feel like you need to walk as quickly as possible everywhere you go even if there's no reason to hurry. And then, then you walk through those temple doors and you're engulfed in silence. Not an oppressive silence, but a silence full of light, joy and peace.

On Saturday we were runnin a bit late (start the stressing), we had to stop at Verizon to try and get my brother's old phone hooked up with my number, but we were first told it would be $20 and then that they can't do it in the store (more anger/stressing), I tried calling Verizon to switch the numbers around while walking to the Temple and was unsuccessful (ARG! why me, why me?? I just want a phone!!!!), more general feeling like my life is out to make me as miserable as possible, lot's of grumbling, Dan telling me to chill out and getting angry that he's telling me to chill out (where's the empathy!!). Basically once we arrived at the Temple, I was not in a happy mood.

But then we walked through those doors and I consciously decided I would chillax and let it go. I was not going to worry any more for the next 2 hours. And it worked. In the temple I was able to let go, and clear my mind. I let thoughts float by, but didn't let any negative ones linger. I didn't think about all of my crazy families, or how I'm struggling to love the place I'm at in life right now. I thought about how I could show God I appreciate what He has given me (my body, my family, my friends, my job, my talents, strengths...). What could I do to fully love and strengthen those things?

There were no epiphanies. But after the crazy few weeks I've had since coming back from vacation, the clarity and the perspective I gained there was amazing and relaxing. I'm still not excited to start another week of chaos, but I feel like I have a better perspective, all thanks to the Temple.