My Mormon Third Eye: I See... The Pain of Freedom

Sunday, July 3, 2011

I See... The Pain of Freedom

The Mormon Third Eye is a staunch Patriot. For proof, readers can review my previous Independence Day postings on Freedom Fighters, what happens when free people do nothing, and the Angel of Freedom. It was only natural, then, when I stood up in Sacrament meeting this morning to sing our opening hymn, the Star-Spangled Banner, that I was moved to tears.

Only I wasn't moved to tears; at least, not by the words of a patriotic anthem. I was experiencing the pain of freedom. Two days earlier, I had an infected molar removed, and now pain dominated my upper body. I thought it was under control enough to participate in church services this morning until I opened my mouth to “Oh Say Can You See...” It was at that exact moment I learned that the oral gyrations required for singing also produced searing pain pulsating from the hole in my mouth where a tooth used to be and instantly filling every part of me above the neck with sensory horror. My brain involuntary responded by pushing seemingly several liters of tears out of my eye sockets.

I had only a few seconds to invoke acceptable coping mechanisms. I could immediately cease singing, then dramatically clutch my jaw and whisper a gracious groan just loud enough for the wife and kid standing next to me to know that all-consuming pain was ruthlessly beating me like that bully did in the second grade so many years ago. They would understand, I rationalized to myself. After all, so many people in this chapel relied on much more puny reasons to justify avoiding the hymns; crying babies, throat surgery, Alzheimers, etc...

Lucky for me righteous guilt kicked in. I pondered on the lives lost and the families destroyed by the ultimate sacrifices made by soldiers in the snows at Valley Forge, the fields at Antietam, the farms in Germany and Europe, the mountains of Korea, the jungles of Southeast Asia, and the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan. The price of freedom was inestimably high for them; for me it would be merely two more puny pain-filled musical minutes of tears and fears.

It was then that pain seemed more manageable. Life would go on for me after the song was over; not so for the WWII pilot shot down over the Pacific or tank driver blown away by a roadside IED outside of Baghdad. I arrived at the “land of the free... and the home of the brave!” and slumped back down on the pew to mentally recover and prepare to partake of the sacrament. The least I could do is finish the song in memory of unfinished lives.

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The Mormon Third Eye Quote of the Week

"As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Priesthood Session Conference, October 2012

Why My Mormon Third Eye?

When I politely excused myself in the middle of dinner to make a bathroom stop, how did Mom know that I had uneaten peas in my pocket to flush down the toilet? When I came home late from a youth dance and slid quietly into bed to avoid waking parental units, how did Dad know, without looking at the car, that I smashed in the front bumper? When I watch my daughter play a video game, how do I know that she's not ready for her Geometry final?

Its the Third Eye. The notorious eye in the back of the head, the extra view of life that God blesses parents striving to do the right thing so they can see more of life than the children they chase after.

Our third eye also permits us to see things and feel emotions that are too refined, too far on the edge of our standard two-eyed peripheral vision to enjoy in its fullness. I've learned that I have a Mormon Third Eye; that is, as a life-long, fully-dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have unique perspective on how the doctrines of the gospel and the demands of my faith in them intersect every other part of my mortal existence to create the entertaining, self-deprecating kaleidoscope of my life.

So... for those of you bold and bored enough to read this far, every so often I'll be sharing here what my Mormon third eye sees. Third eyes are relatively huge; they see the humorous, the entertaining, the embarrassing, the beautiful, the inspirational, and even the moral and political; however, they tend to ignore the evil, depressing and destructive: there is enough of that in world already!

The Four Secrets to Successful Living

Always Go Where There is Free Food - This includes ward and work parties, wedding receptions and missionary open houses; the money you spend to buy the ingredients for the world-famous triple chocolate cake you bring doesn’t count.
Never Pay Full Price for Anything – See my posts on Black Friday escapades for more information on this.
Never, Ever Press the Red Button - Usually, if you are faced with a red button somewhere, don’t press it – it usually means trouble. For example, the red button launches the missiles. Do yourself a favor and don’t press it.
Any Problem You Face Can Be Solved With Bungee Cords and Duct Tape - Bungee cord and duct tape technology has saved many marriages and ward parties. I’m not just talking about problems with plumbing or keeping groceries from bouncing around the trunk; I know of relationship and family issues that have been solved with creative applications of these two substances.