Go Forward With Faith

"Do not fear the future. Go forward with hope and faith." Pres. Boyd K Packer


Speaking of being fearless (see yesterday's post), I loved this quote today from Pres. Packer.  We live in a world that always has an element of chaos.  In fact, the concept of entropy means that this world is always tends towards disorder (see this link for a brief explanation: Entropy Description ), while we as humans try to create order. This may seem paradoxical, but in fact I think it is entropy that allows us to progress as we try to create order.


OK, so I'm going to try to simplify the sciency part. Think about if we have a bunch of molecules that are tightly compressed.  Or a brick wall held together by mortar.  The tendency towards greater entropy suggests that the molecules will tend to drift apart and the brick wall eventually breaks down.  (Kind of how my body is gradually breaking down as I get old . . . but I digress)  This can actually allow us to make something new from the chaos of drifting molecules or a crumbling wall.  Imagine if, instead, the molecules and bricks tended towards more order and becoming more tightly bonded together.  It would be awfully hard for us to create anything new.


So, taking this back to our lives.  Imagine if our lives tended towards increasing order and structure.  It is hard to imagine me taking the time to purposely pull apart that order just because I decide I need to learn something.  Luckily :) - our lives tend towards increasing entropy, or disorder, too. The question for me is whether I embrace the chaos and "go forward with hope and faith" in the future.  So, I've decided this is the new challenge to do boldly:


Go forward with hope and faith in the following:

• God as our Father and Jesus Christ - that they know me and who I can be
• Letting go of the desire to erase entropy and disorder
• Embracing the opportunity to create something new of myself when there seems to be chaos
• Knowing that God will give me the tools and guidance to create something new, even when I can't see how to do it right now

So, bring on the chaos!