Watching TV Isn't Always a Waste of Time

A few months back I read a blog post that was title "Marriage is for real folks". It was written by Amanda Walker and she talked about how at times a marriage can be really, really hard, but it is always worth it! It was one of the most refreshing and uplifting blogs I have read. It felt so good to hear that someone else's marriage also wasn't perfect, and that it is TOTALLY OK if it's not perfect. 

Like any other couple my wife and I don't always agree about everything. In fact sometimes we have totally different interest all together, and that is OK. Before I got married I use to tell myself that I would never argue with my wife. While, that is a great goal, it's not necessarily realistic. Like most people we have our disagreements.

A few weeks ago we got into a disagreement about something that at the time seemed important, but looking back I don't even remember what it was about it. We resolved it later that night, but I couldn't stop thinking about what we could have done differently to prevent this insignificant argument.

The next day I was watching the latest episode of one of my favorite TV shows, The Office. The show is currently on it's final season and the whole season so far they have been building up tension between the two main characters Jim and Pam. For anyone who has never watched the show, Jim and Pam are a married couple that when the show first started were just two co-workers with a crush on each other. The first few seasons of the show did an awesome job at showing their relationship develop and they eventually got married in the 6th season.

image from here

Its now season 9, and since they have been married the writers haven't really done too much with the characters to really make them interesting. They have pretty much become this unstoppable couple that never have any problems. That was until this season, when we were treated to real argument and fight between this power couple.

For any not familiar with their history you catch up with it here. 

The tension had been building between the two of the them the last few episodes and finally in this episode they both lost it and had their first real fight. As a viewer, who has seen this couple come so far, and always be so strong together, it was almost painful to watch them fight. It was like watching two of my really good friends argue with each other. Their fight was painfully uncomfortable, but it was also extremely realistic.

The whole fight started because Jim has now started a new company and the company is in another city, which takes him away from his family for a few days a week. As a new start up they are trying to raise money and are going through all the stress of starting a new business.

Pam who is working at good old Dunder Mifflin, is actually quite happy with their life, and doesn't really see the need for Jim to go off and work somewhere else. Since Jim has been gone she has been juggling working and taking care of their two kids.

This just a brief snippet of their argument. 

The clashing of opinions all comes out when Jim can't make it to their daughters dance recital because he's away working on his new company. Since Jim can't be there he asks Pam to record it, but Pam misses it because she gets an important phone call. So a few hours later, after a long, stressful day of chasing investors, Jim is looking for a little pick me up, and what a better way than to watch his daughter's recital. When he finds out that Pam didn't record it he snaps and lets Pam know of his frustrations, which then causes Pam to become defensive and talks about how she is trying her best to try and make things work for the family.

Doesn't this sound kind of familiar? Arguing about something so minimal, and turning it into something big?

As I watched their argument unfold I felt like screaming at both of them, and telling them that what they were arguing about was pointless. Pam missed the recital because she got a really important phone, and Jim is disappointed that he lost an investor and had to miss his daughter's recital. If they could both just see what each other were going through then they probably wouldn't have this argument.

That is when I realized something. As a viewer watching from the outside I was able to see both sides to the story and I could empathize with both of them. It then made me wonder, how often have the arguments or disagreements I've been a part of could have been prevented had I taken some time to find out what they other person was going through?

After watching this I realized that maybe I should try and take myself out of the situation, and look at it from an outside perspective. Pretend like I'm a viewer watching a TV show if you will and, ask myself  what is the real problem or issue? Is this worth getting angry and arguing about?

I think so often we as humans, myself included in this, get so caught up with our own busy and stressful days that we expect everyone else should know what we are going through. When we do that we forget that the people around us are also going through their own stressful situations. I've found that if I get too caught up in my own problems, and I don't take the time to understand other people's problems, and then my problems get worse.

When it comes down to it relationships are hard, really hard sometimes, but if we take them away then what do we have? Life becomes pretty meaningless without our relationships. We shouldn't let arguments with the people we are closest to turn into big problems. Relationships are one of human beings greatest source of happiness, and if we take the time to understand the people we are in relationships with we can prevent differences from turning into estrangements.

After watching this episode of The Office, I realized one, that even the best couples we have their ups and downs, and two relationships are worth fighting for! They aren't always going to be perfect, but they are always worth it, especially the relationships with the people that are closest to us! 

Throughout all the up and downs, and all the differences we may have, I have grown to love this girl more and more each day. We just celebrated our 2 year anniversary and I realized that these past two years have been very hard, but they have also been the most rewarding, satisfying, and enjoyable two years of my life.

This relationship is worth fighting for!  

Lessons Learned from a Simple, but Inspiring Pageant

*I meant to post this day after I saw it, which was last Friday, but I forgot to so better late than never!

One of my favorite things about living in Mesa is that every year at the LDS temple is the wonderful Easter Pageant  It's a short pageant that depicts the life of Jesus Christ. I think I've been to the it almost every year since my family moved to Arizona.

Image from here

Its always been a great reminder to me that Jesus wasn't just a great teacher or philosopher that lived thousands of years ago, but that He is the son of God and He came to this earth for a purpose. He came to teach us, but he also came to make right all of our sins and mistakes, and also take upon him the pains, afflictions, and sickness of all humankind. (Alma 7: 11-13) This short but powerful pageant conveys this message so beautifully.

I've even had that opportunity to be in it a few years back, and it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life.

This year there was one part that really stood out to me more than usual. There is a scene about halfway through where Jesus is playing with the little children, and one of them comes to him on crutches and he can hardly walk. When Jesus see this young boy limping to him, and stops and stands wear he is and extends his arms out to boy, acknowledging the boy to come to him. As Jesus waits standing there with his arms open, the boy continues to limp and struggle as he walks towards the Savior. After a few moments of the boys struggling he suddenly drops his crutch and sprints right into the Savior's embrace. It's an amazing and incredible scene that brought a few tears to my eyes last night as I watched.

After watching this beautiful scene I began to realized a few things. Like that boy, we all struggle with something, weather it be physical pain or emotional pain, and sometimes it may feel like we can't go on, or that we need to give up. What I like most about this portrayal was that Christ allowed this boy to try and walk for himself. He stood and waited for the boy to come to him and exercise his faith. He didn't instantly take away the boy's suffering, but he allowed the boy an opportunity to exercise his faith and walk to him, even if meant a small amount of pain and discomfort. This allowed the young boy the opportunity to realize why he truly does need the Savior in his life.

Image from here

It made me think that whenever I am struggling with something, the Lord won't just take away my pain instantly without me first demonstrating my faith. I need to get up and try walking. I need to push forward, instead of sitting around and waiting. Like the young boy I to have been given crutches in my life to help me when times are hard, but also like the young boy, the Savior can make it possible to be free of any crutches, and create an avenue for me to overcome any and all obstacles I may face.

The Atonement of my Lord, and Savior is such an amazing and incredible thing. This experience showed me once again how powerful and reaching His love is. If the Savior can do something as miraculous as making a young boy walk again, surely He can help me overcome ALL the hurdles and discomfort that is placed in my own life! But like the boy, I need to get up and walk, and show my Lord that I care. Show Him that I want Him in my life, and that I know that He will help me walk during the hardest moments of my life.

I'm so grateful for the Easter Pageant, and that the Holy Ghost was able to help me recognize this small and simple truth about the everlasting and all reaching Atonement of Jesus Christ.