In the Middle of the Night


I was up most of the night....with a head full of thoughts I couldn't quiet.  Erin sent a link to a BYU Devotional Talk that was so timely and comforting, which I listened to, and then finally fell asleep around 6 a.m. (One of the truly lovely things about living in a time zone 8 hours ahead of loved ones is that when you are awake in the middle of the night, you can reach out to one of them , and they are wide awake, doing daytime things, and can reassure you of fears that seem to beat you up in the dark silence of night,  Here is the link she sent:  It is awesome....and a good thing to listen to if you are feeling anxious:   https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/candace-berrett/angels-to-beckon-me/

 At 9, SK donned his suit and headed out to pick up the elders and attend Sacrament Meeting in person.  I heard the door click and got up to shower and get ready for the online meeting.  I put on a skirt and sweater and my name badge.  The official Sacrament Meeting started at 9:30.  It is a combination of Oxford 1st and 2nd Wards.  The allowed attendance is 50, 25 from each ward.  We haven't been to that meeting yet in person, we felt that there are so many who would like to attend, and should.  We didn't want to take anyone's spot.

We both have encouraged all of the YSAs to attend.  They particularly need it.  We were both going to attend today, but SK was kind and thought I ought to sleep.  At 9:45, I entered the meeting on Zoom - the online meeting of this day and age.  

 The meeting was awesome...as it always is here.  After the Sacrament was passed, a tall slender and dignified man with a full head of gray/white hair approached the pulpit.  He was dapper in a tweed suit with a vest and tie.  When he spoke, his Scottish accent was music!

Brother Finley, the man who conducted and the man who gave the talk, quoted scripture in Hebrew.  He is a professor at one of the colleges, but he and his wife are also perpetual students.  He mentioned that "his Hebrew tutor" had explained the meaning of some of the words that he didn't understand.  Brother Finley illuminated the meaning and application for all of us.  

I was surprised when he voiced what I had been feeling during the night.  He talked about being awake late into the night wondering if this virus would ever go away, or if life would ever return to normal.  He recited in English the words to "How Firm a Foundation."  My heart responded to that talk!

1
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”
3
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”
4
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”
5
“E’en down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.”
6
“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”


   
I don't know how many times in my entire life that I have sung that song, but hearing the words like that was a sweet experience.  

After that, I watched Relief Society, a Fireside by Tyler Griffin (a BYU Professor who teaches an outstanding weekly lesson on the Book of Mormon), and the "Why I Believe" Devotional from London, which was outstanding......all from the comfort of our couch.



This is all great for the time being....but I would hate to think this is how we'll meet from now on.  Something to think about in the middle of the night,

 






Comments

Erin said…
Speaking of being up in the middle of the night....

Someone in our religion class made a comment about some of the things she’s learned during this pandemic. She quoted the words to a hymn I know you’ll recognize and shared how she’s learning to put aside the “useless cares” and focus on more important things. Isn’t it wonderful when we suddenly understand the words to hymn in a different way—even though we’ve sung it a hundred times before?

'Tis better far for us to strive
Our useless cares from us to drive
Do this, and joy your hearts will swell
All is well! All is well!
October 14, 2020 at 1:41 AM
Elder and Sister Madsen said…
I love that! Yes, hymns to me are like scriptures. The powerful messages are there for us, if we just tune in.
October 17, 2020 at 4:13 AM
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