Downward Spiral

I spent the last evening running away with my husband.  We stayed in a hotel and ate out.  It was perfectly lovely!

I read the chapter in Charles Swindoll's Quest for Character yesterday of the same title as this post.  It was amazing how many things led my mind to the theme of the chapter.  I couldn't get it out of my mind.  Swindoll speaks of erosion and how it happens to our individual hearts.  It became part of everything I saw and heard.  By evening, I had to read the chapter to my husband and get his feelings on it.

He shared that, as a middle school principal, he had just been in a science classroom the previous week in which they were discussing ways to halt erosion and even reverse it.

We agreed that we had a goal for the new year--stop the spiraling, or better yet, figure out how to create an upward spiral in ourselves and thus in our home.

Swindoll shares, and I agree, that the erosion of our hearts, just like the erosion that takes place in our world happens imperceptibly.  In this lies the difficulty of overcoming it.

In my mind, it isn't impossible to conquer this.  It's a matter of taking precautions and yes, sometimes overdoing it.  It's also a matter of adding things into your life and into your heart that are good and uplifting.  This process doesn't just happen.  We all, yes, all because we are all victims to it in this world, need to be active in defeating the factors that erode our hearts.

I don't know if there's one magic key.  I believe that for everyone, that erosion-reverser is different because we are all unique individuals.

With the new year in sight and the celebration of our Savior's birth tomorrow, this upward-spiral is easy to conceive.  For me, it will be increased fervor in my prayers.  More dedication to going to the temple.  Increase in working to understand what I read as I study the scriptures.  More than anything, it will be to serve others and reach outward.

As we discussed these things, my mind was drawn to this.  Although the speaker is of my faith, I believe this message is for everyone.

May we all, at this time of year, and throughout 2012 and our lives, "look inward," "reach outward" and "look heavenward;" thus, halting the silent erosion of our hearts and eventually, creating an upward spiral in our lives.

Merry Christmas and may your 2012 be all you dream it can be!



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