In the dirt ,grow the plants. On the plants, grow the thorns. Beneath that Crown of Thorns, He bows His head.

As a little background about me, I love dirt. And plants. And the ground. Being slightly uncoordinated, I usually spend a fair amount of time on the ground, particularly in the winter when there is slippery ice. I actually get to play in the dirt and in the bushes for a few hours everyday as part of my job. Most people would think that pruning bushes on BYU campus would be dull and monotonous. I admit i was one of those people before i actually got the job. But i discovered a magic in being able to shape and beautify something that originally had no structure or direction. Taking small pieces out of a plant improves its overall structure and shape so that it can grow as healthily as possible to quickly reach its fullest potential. I can make the plant what ever i want it to be. I've thought a lot about this if you can't tell. I like to think of my life as being similar to the plants i cut. God is the pruner and i am the bush. He makes small cuts, which at first don't make sense and seem to hurt, but overall, he is shaping my character and helping me grow to be what he needs to beautify the world. There are many more different comparisons and correlations i like to make between my own growth and the development of a plant, but to understand them takes some background in horticulture and the growth patterns of differing plants. Not worth the explication at the moment.

Besides metaphorically learning about my own development in life, its fun to me to learn about the different creations God has put on earth, specifically the names of plants. I admit I am somewhat of a nerd and have been guilty, on more than one occasion of, while walking and talking with someone, pointing to a plant and naming it and telling a brief explanation of its purpose, growing habits, history of its origin or other such nonsense.. I apologize if you happen to have been a victim of this torture. I actually even did this before i began working as a horticultural specialist. Laurel has big leaves and is easy to prune. It makes me think of Laurel Shelly, my high school latin teacher and an amazing person. Viburnum is a plant with white clusters of flowers and grey fuzzy leaves that have a fiberglass-like powder that, if you touch it makes you itch instantly and can temporarily blind you if it gets in your eye. Viburnum makes me think of my father because of the many times he did construction on our house i saw him stuff fiberglass insulation in the walls. Another plant, Pyracantha or "fire bush" has a poison in its tiny thorns which makes a wound burn like it is on fire. It also has bright orange berries which look like flames. I think of my self-proclaimed, pyromaniac of a friend Eric as well as my brother who has a fiery personality. Many plants i work with have thorns. One in particular makes me grimace at the thought of pruning it. Julianna Barberry bushes have thorns which are on average 2 inches long and very sharp and brittle. The thorns line every sprig and darken and become harder the older they are. After a day working with this plant, if i forget long sleeves, my arms are covered in stinging, bloody scratches. This thought consuming pain gives to me, new meaning to the phrase "a crown of thorns". Suddenly, my pain seems insignificant. Being on this earth and having the ability to feel pain is something i take for granted so often. I think God placed reminders on earth, like the thorns of plants, to remind us of the opportunities and blessings we have, particularly that of the Great Atonement.

6 Goals I want my Writing to Acomplish

Although plainness and truth are not actually typical qualities of my writing (i usually love to "improve the truth" in as ambiguous and wordy a way as possible) simplicity and honesty are two things I admire and am trying to implement into my life. Nephi is probably my biggest hero because of his statement in 33 of 2 Nephi. He talks about "watering his pillow by night" for the people he loves. One of my ambitions in life has always been to benefit the lives of those around me. I want to do this through writing. I love to write. It comes easy to me, and i feel a certain power from being able to express myself through words. A long time ago, before I even realized that I wanted to study writing/communications in college, I wrote in the margins above this chapter the phrase "what my writing should do." Verse 4, (which is at the top of my blog) epitomizes my desires in this particular blog (and I suppose should be my goal with all my writing, but i'll have to work on that...)

I want my writing to...
1. Persuade people to do good
2. Let people know about the past and those who came before us
3. Speak of Christ
4. Persuade others to believe in Christ
5. Encourage others to endure to the end
6. Speak truth

Although taking "artistic liberties" is more conducive to my (other) personality, (no, i don't literally have multiple personalities) I feel like this attempt at developing a sense of spiritual writing will at least benefit my relationship with Christ, if not helping others in theirs.