Our Quest of Freedom and Bravery Pt. 2

*Pre-disclosure: This post was actually written August 2nd but was never posted due to unknown events. The second of three posts was supposed to be an informational update on our progress in the Airforce application process. We didn't hear from them until the beginning of September that they needed a follow up visit with the chiropractor that treated Da Beast after the offending accident that caused a halt in the process in the first place. So we're still at a stand still which I am at peace with. Other thoughts and inspirations, however, have flooded my mind and heart that I have been fighting for awhile and especially the past few weeks. Also we celebrated our 8th anniversary and took a mini family vacation. Lastly, my computer battery was fried thanks to me constantly leaving it plugged in. So here it is, the second part, hopefully in part 3 I can officially give an update on our military journey to the Airforce life.*

  Freedom was never gained taking the easy road. It has never been something that "comes easy". It may start off with ease, it may be surrounded by peace, and it may even have comfort sprinkled throughout the journey but at some point in that journey to freedom, opposition will present itself and it is not only a part of it but a necessary part of it. We cannot fully be grateful and experience our freedom unless we also understand the opposition of it, of ALL things (2 Nephi 2:11).

• Even in Heaven there was a war for our freedom to choose. (Revelation 12: 7-11) )  (Moses 4:1-4)
• Moses had to face his own fears and troubles to obtain the freedom of the people (Major events found in Exodus 2,  Exodus 7 , and Exodus 14) 
• Esther with the help of the people's fasting took bravery and a possibility of sacrifice for a freedom to live. 
• Jesus was born, atoned for our sins, and died for the freedom of every soul beginning as a promise made before the war in heaven and manifested on Earth. (Events found in Matthew 1 , Mark 14, and Luke 23) 
• Captain Moroni wrote a Title of Liberty and led the people through God for freedom for their religion. (Alma 46)
• Mormon fought for belief and hope for the people when they were at war for pride and anger. (Mormon 2)
• Moroni fought society by seclusion for the protection of the records and religion of the people. (Mormon 8) 
• The 13 colonies began the formation of the United States by fighting for independence from England  

...And the list is so much more extensive and on going. And these are just events of opposition for the benefit of the whole of a people. Everyday we face our own personal oppositions and often because of them we feel weak and alone. "Well, if I were You-Know-Who, I'd want you to feel cut off from everyone else; because if it's just you alone, you're not as much of a threat" Luna Lovegood from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", by J.K. Rowling. 

Do we flee or fight?

Fighting often gets a bad wrap because of the connotation behind it. When you come from a place of anger, hostility, pride, selfishness, misunderstanding, expectation, and assumption the fight is not fair, just or honorable. As a result in order to avoid a fight and obtain a sense of safety we concede or flee from the confrontation of another. However, if we evaluate the position of the other and what they are feeling as well as our own and come from a place of peace, love, humility, selflessness, flexibility, and openness the fight can be had and overcome. Not every fight mentioned above was done physically. Some were done verbally. Others were done when one half of the fighting party was fighting with God on their side and honorably while the other fought with hostility and lusting after blood. I'll let you figure out who "won" those wars and contentions. 

War and contention will continue, everyday, personally or in many groups and societies until the Prince of Peace comes to tame the land once again. 

Our families journey to fight for freedom not just for our family but also for our country and religion has definitely NOT been the easy road but we have felt this peace as it continues to go forward and I have faith that as the challenges with our decisions become more difficult- because they will- we will continue to be uplifted and guided by God, as long as we continue to draw close to him and happily endure all things. 

Easier said than done, I know. 

"Freedom isn't about what you can get from your country, it's about what you can do for your country" -John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address.  And let me just add that that goes for everything, not just our country. The more we concentrate on what we can do for others versus what we get out of it, our world will seem a little brighter, bigger, and more lovely. 

Other Resources we are using to promote the feeling of freedom in our home in preparation for our military journey: 

1. Church Resources for Military Members 
2. Come Follow Me Manuals for learning and teaching the gospel at home and supported by the Church. 
3. Scripture Reading and Study 
4. General Conference Talks 
5. Really good "self help" books. 

We've also been looking for advice from others who have recently been in our shoes through various websites and YouTube videos that I've either already shared or will continue to share as we document our journey from here on out! 

XOXO

Megan 

--------------> Next Blog Post: Our Quest of Freedom and Bravery Pt. 3