Meanings of Words

Scriptures.

Isaiah.

Foreign Language.

Those three words put together = exactly how I feel most days.

I have always struggled with taking scriptures, talks, articles, etc. and making them apply to me.

Let's be real - most of the time it's a bunch of gibberish to me.

In a very holy way, of course.

But, I have no idea what they are saying.

Or why they are saying it.

Or what half of the words mean.

And, Isaiah...

With all due respect, Isaiah, I have not a clue in the world what you are saying EVER.

My Becky has been Marco Polo-ing me in the mornings this week.

That girl has an insane strength when it comes to applying scripture into EVERYTHING.

She understands them in a way I just do not.

She is a footnote expert.

And, by listening to her as she prepares to be a seminary teacher (are those kids not the luckiest??!!) and prepare to begin coaching, I marvel at what I am able to gain from her talents.

This morning, she brought up the word "sober."

Let's dive in:

As a recovering addict, "sober" has very distinct meaning.

In the recovery sense, it means that you are without addiction:

Think alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling, etc.

However, Becky brought to my attention a chapter in Alma (The Book of Mormon). 

Alma is talking to Shiblon and talks about bridling his passions.

Bridling can also mean "boundaries."

Passions are anything we feel strongly about.

But, Alma also tells all of his sons to "be sober."

We read that word a lot in the scriptures.

I always figured there was a LOT of addiction going on back in the day if everyone has to tell everyone to be sober!!

Like stop with the moonshine, People!

However, as Becky taught me:

Sober also means:

Calm

Steady

Simple

Reasonable

Level-headed

Rational

And, when I hear those words I relate all of them to being in our true self.

When I meditate on my true self, these are words that I picture.

When I ask myself if I'm in my true self, these are words I am looking for:

Am I calm OR am I chaotic and unfocused?

Am I steady OR do I feel unsure or off-balance?

Am I keeping things simple OR am I going off in the weeds?

Am I being level-headed OR do I need to take a break and get myself back to true self?

I am learning that as I read/journal every morning during my personal devotional, there is ALWAYS something in them for me to gain or to learn from.

And, that's the point.

My purpose is not to be a scriptorian.

My purpose is to learn and to grow.

And that purpose allows me to stay sober, calm, steady, and simple.