Why is Life Hard?

Being on an LDS mission in Tennessee I've come in contact with numerous amounts of people from vast ranges of society.  I've been in homes who hold the humblest family circumstances within in their walls.  I've met people who call the cold, damp sidewalks of downtown Nashville their bed for the night.  I've also been in superfluous sized mansions adorned with furniture, paintings, and all sorts of decorative pieces.  I've seen the happiest of families where suggestions of hardship would never be realistic.  On the opposite end of the spectrum I've seen broken families that are deeply wounded by the greatest trials.  What has given me the most thought and intrigue the last couple days is why is there such a difference in the lifestyles of people.  Why are some happy while others are miserable?  If we are truly all sons and daughters of the same God, then why is there so much imbalance in the world?
What I've really come to understand is that this life isn't judged on what we have or how high we reach in society's eyes.  This life is the time for us to prepare to meet God.   It's a time of testing and tribulation that molds us into who we are.  It prepares us and gives us the opportunity to learn and grow. Although people are born into very different circumstances they all have the same purpose in life.  I can't exactly say why all of us are born into such different walks of life or why some of us have to endure hardships that make other trials seem minute.  I don't know why people seem to have ease in their life and why some have to suffer tribulations that compare to that of Job's, but I can tell you this: That those who are born into such circumstances are placed there for a reason.  They have something to learn and those trials have a purpose.  God does not place us in any situation that we cannot pull through.
I honestly believe that God gives certain people more on their plate because they are stronger and He knows they can bare it.  If you are a person who feels like you are carrying burdens too heavy for yourself, remember who already carried your burdens.  God trusts you to handle these trials.  He
knows you and knows you can get through this.  Our Heavenly Father is not a god comparable to any connotation of meanness or injustice.  This life seems so unfair sometimes but I promise that in the end it will all be made fair by the Savior and Redeemer of us all, even Jesus Christ.  Although blessings might seem unapparent where we are now, for all those who live and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ, blessings are in store.  They might not come tomorrow, or next week, or even in this life at all, but they will come.  Embrace what God has given you and have hope that all will be well.  Look to the future and know that God will make everything right in the end.  Although I can't completely answer why some people have heavier trials than others, I know that there is a reason and God knows that reason.  We all have the same purpose but each of us have a different paths tailored for our needs.   Know that all trials and tribulations will pass and the blessing will come.  I know that God loves each and every one of us.  He knows us and when we look to Him and embrace His gospel that all will be well. 

Manly Ego Leads To Dangerous Trails

I vividly remember taking dozens of hikes while I was a boy scout. I have always loved hiking, especially long backpacking trips. Although I only weighed 90 pounds and was just a scrawny kid, I would fill my backpack to the brim with all sorts of supplies and treats. All of the scouts in the troop would meet up right before the hike and compare each others' bags. It was bragging rights to have the biggest pack and although I was the smallest one there, I would always have the biggest pack and was proud of it. For some reason God created me with a very competitive personality.
As we would get to the start of the trail-head, I would hurriedly get my pack strapped on and be biting at the bit to get on the trail.  I always wanted to be the first one on the trail and the first one to the camp.  My father was the assistant scout master and would continually say, "Kyle, slow down."  My dad, knowing I had severe asthma and a competitive nature, saw what was best for me and urged me to have a safe pace.  Although my dad always told me to slow down, my ego would shrug it off.  I would always stay at the front of the troop, and if I ever noticed someone gaining speed on me I would step up my pace, increase my stride, and give it my all.  Then the inevitable would happen.  I would start gasping for air as my lungs lit on fire.  I would have an asthma attack.  I quickly would pull  out my inhaler and start frantically puffing as much medicine as I could into my burning lungs.  I'd sorrowfully have to step off the trail, take my pack off, and watch all the boys pass by as I tried to recuperate.  Then my dad would catch up to me and say "Kyle, slow down."  I would shamefully tell my dad he was right and I should have slowed down.  He'd take his pack off and rest beside me until he knew I could breathe again. I wish I could say I learned from that experience but I would always start back up and run to catch up with the rest of the boys and reclaim my spot in front of the troop.  Although I didn't learn my lesson in Scouts, I'm starting to recognize the simple lesson my dad was trying to teach me.  
Mosiah 4:27 states: It is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. My dad was trying to get me to see that it wasn't important if I got to camp first and carried the biggest load but that I get there safely.  We as people all have the same goal to get back to our Heavenly Father.  We are somewhere on the trail of life.  Sometimes we get caught up in the race of life and our competitive nature gets the best of us.  We want to be in front of everyone and sometimes we forget why we are even on the trail.  We get so caught up in trying to be in front of others and carry the biggest loads that we put our spiritual safety at risk.  Inevitably we run out of strength and fall to the side of the trail watching others pass by.  The Lord then comes to our side and reminds us it isn't about our pace, it's about safely getting to our divine destination.
Remember that God doesn't want us to break ourselves trying to get back to him.  He knows our hearts and sees our desires.  Set a pace that is right for you.  If you see yourself running faster than you have strength slow down.  Don't run out of energy and fall off the path.  Continue towards th
e camp with steadfastness.  Learn from what the Lord tells you and when He gets you back on the path, stay with Him.  I wish I would've have stayed with my father; it would have saved me a lot of pain and struggle.
God wants us to get to Him safely. He loves each and every one of us so much. I know that He is there to help us but at first we must humble ourselves and find the pace that He wants us to follow. Learn from my mistake and slow down if you are running faster than you have strength.

"It is not requisite that a man should

 run faster than he has strength"

Flying Heavenward

Last winter I took the opportunity to go on a helicopter ride over Utah with my best friend.  It was one of the most fun things I have ever done.  I remember the feeling as we lifted off the ground and ascended higher and higher.  As we got further off the ground, more and more scenes came into view.  We could see the beautiful Christmas lights, the traffic rushing on the highways, and the buildings all lit up.  It was one of the greatest sights I had ever seen.

 The thing that amazed me the most was that this big metal contraption we were in was actually flying!  I asked the pilot tons of questions about the wonderful avionic machine.  The thing that stood out to me the most was that the tilt of the blades above our heads was what determined the flying pattern.  Tiny adjustments to the angle of the rotors could raise us, lower us, and propel us forward.  When the rotors are flat, the air moves around them without any effect.  Although they are whipping around at lightning speed, the helicopter stays still; but when the angle of the blades change, they begin to dig into the air and raise the helicopter.  This is much like life.  When we are running around, just going through the motions of every day activities, we go nowhere.  We are left on the ground seeing only what lies ahead.  With a little change in our lives, we can start to be raised to see a new perspective and broader picture.  We can begin to find enjoyment in life.
Some people might already be flying and that's great.  Stay up there!  But for those who are  like me and find ourselves getting stuck in a rut, let's start flying.  Let's change something and dig in a little more.  It takes effort to get into the air, but it is so worth it.  It doesn't take massive adjustments to get into the air; it starts with little movements that lead to bigger reactions.  Things like scripture study, prayer, and spending more time together as a family are just a few things that can help us get airborne.  I've seen many times where just a few minutes of studying the scriptures has helped me for hours throughout the day.  Prayer is one of the most simple ways to be lifted.  It can seem so simple that sometimes we can easily overlook it.  I know that prayer, just a few minutes of the day, can create peace and a sense of self worth.  It really and truly is a way we can be in communication with our Heavenly Father.  Also, our family on earth is our most important possession. Spending time together as a family in an edifying way is one of the best ways to create lasting happiness. 
I could list off hundreds more of simple ways to get more lift in life and I'm sure everyone else has hundreds more as well.  Remember that it only takes a slight change in the pitch of the rotors to lift a helicopter.  If you can't seem to get off the ground, change a little.  I've seen little changes make the biggest of differences in my life and others.  I know that if we take time to make good changes in our lives that we will be taken Heavenward. We will begin to see the greatest of views and will have the greatest times of our lives.