Fake Treats

With one of my children being grade 11 this year we are involved in the annual production of the grade 11 play. As parents we always help out. In addition to helping with the meal, this year I also accepted the assignment to make fake baked goods which will be used as props on the set. This has been a project that was more challenging than I had anticipated. Making fake food takes way longer than just making up a batch of goodies. Being a crafty sort of thing, I have had the participation and help of some of my children in this endeavor. Together we have made cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and donuts. The cupcakes are made out of plaster-of-paris with half a styrofoam ball glued on top and then iced with royal icing which turns rock-hard. The brownies are made out of sponges painted brown and then iced with brown royal icing. The cookies and donuts were made out of salt dough, baked until they were completely dry, and then painted and frosted. Everything looked very real and quite delicious. If you hadn't known what the ingredients were you might be tempted to sample something.

I found it ironic that we finished making all these sweet confections just before April Fools' Day. We never thought to use them as a joke, but afterwards the kids couldn't help but think what a great joke it would have been! We had a few people that saw the treats and if we had not told them that they were fake they were pretty convinced that they were real. I even had one person who when they saw them, they said, "it looks like you've been doing some baking!" Had she actually sampled one of them I think she would have been very disappointed.

Because I know what these foods are made from, it doesn't matter that they sat for a week waiting to be taken to the school. It doesn't matter that I see them more than once a day. There is no desire in me to eat or sample what their appearance suggests that they are. One of the hardest things in life is to discern the difference between a deception and a truth. We live in a world that is filled with deceptions and falsehoods. So how do you tell the difference? Recognizing the reason for deceptions and lies is a big help. All these things come from the great imitator, our mortal adversary, even Lucifer himself. He imitates good things all the time. He whispers lies into our ears and tells us that to partake of these things will be wonderful and satisfying - they will enrich our lives. He seeks to convince us that happiness is an equivalent of a momentary pleasure. He would have us believe that to give into selfish desires will make us feel whole and complete. He even tries to convince us that religion is outmoded or "old-fashioned". He would have us believe that we do not need God. He is very good at making these things look real and sound appealing.

Would you like to sample a cupcake or perhaps bite into a brownie? When you know that it is false the whole feeling of desire for that treat is lost. As we learn to discern between between good and evil that same thing happens. As we desire goodness, anything that we can recognize as being from the adversary loses its appeal completely. As we engage in actions and habits that lift, it becomes easier to discern between the two. We have scriptures and modern-day prophets that speak to us the words of Christ and testify of where happiness comes from. As we pray upon these things our hearts are quickened and discernment comes. Our Sunday meetings and worthily partaking of the sacrament also increase our ability to discern between good and evil. These things represent real food that is satisfying and enjoyable. It is the food of the spirit which sustains us and gives us hope and joy and happiness. 

Fake food, no matter how good it looks, is of no value to us. There is no nourishment. All things that come from the adversary are designed to sap our spiritual energy and offer us nothing in return. Let us seek for the genuine thing, found through the Saviour Jesus Christ, bringing joy and peace and happiness in its wake. The truth of goodness and righteousness is found in the living of a Christ-like life.

Fish Tailing

A couple of weeks ago I was on my way home with my daughter who was driving. We were on a gravel road which had some pretty pronounced grooves in it and the gravel in between was deep. At one point a little gopher hopped up out of the ditch and ran across the road as we approached. My daughter has a definite distaste for gophers, and she immediately swerved to hit the gopher which put her into a very deep, thick gravel. Immediately the car began to fishtail and I could see her foot going for the brake. I calmly stated, "Do not brake," and then I put my hand on the wheel and helped her stear as we went back-and-forth being pulled by the gravel. As the car slowed, control was regained and we were able to continue on without incident. She thanked me and I could tell she meant it, for there had been a moment of fear there when she had felt the car being taken from her control as the driver. I know that she learned a valuable lesson that will serve her well when she is driving on her own in the future.

In the time that has followed I have thought about this experience. Driving on a gravel road can be related to life. Sometimes we get distracted and we veer off the proven path and suddenly find ourselves in unfamiliar territory, fish tailing uncontrollably. We no longer know how to respond to the situations or circumstances that we find ourselves in. And quite often there is fear in our hearts as we wonder how we can possibly get our lives under control and get back on the path that will take us to the destination we seek. Listening to those we trust can really help us in these times of uncertainty. Just as my daughter listened to me, and allowed me to help her we must be willing to listen to our Savior, Jesus Christ and his prophets who are upon the earth, teaching and guiding us with His words, even the words of eternal life. We also find this direction in the holy Scriptures, and I know that as we pray about the things we read that the Holy Ghost will testify to our souls of the truth and that we will also receive revelation, personal revelation, that will guide us back to the path as we make the necessary changes in our lives that are required of us. 

By focussing on the Saviour of this world, we exercise faith rather than fear. This is essential for our progress toward God. Those little gophers may manifest in many different ways. They may be distractions. They maybe pressures, deadlines, attitudes, and even beliefs. But anything that takes us away from the Savior, Jesus Christ, can cause fishtailing and requires a course correction. I am so grateful for the stabilizing influence of my Redeemer. Just as my daughter and I felt calm and peaceful as the car came under control, Jesus Christ can bring peace to our hearts as we seek Him. I am so grateful for the joy this knowledge of brings to me. I have been blessed to feel of His peace, even in those times when life seems to be fishtailing uncontrollably, He has been there for me. Because of His presence and guidance, I am able to hang on without panicking and hitting the brakes and I know that I am carefully guided and assisted back toward the path that will lead me to the destination, the Eternal destination which I seek.