I read an article today that talked about some of the differences between humans and primates. There were interesting parts and others that were not so accurate. The author basically stated that we humans have evolved to instinctually feel empathy and the desire to work cooperatively and help one another. As an example, he said that a baby as young as 18 months will try to help someone find a lost object. He postulates that this was one of those survival-of-the-fittest characteristics we developed to be able to perpetuate our race. We obviously know that his theory isn't true, but that we have those feelings because we are children of the ultimate benevolent being, created in his image, designed to feel mercy and love for our fellow man.
I was sitting here, in the Houston airport, next to a young couple. They were obviously mourning something. He had his arm around her, rubbing her arm trying to comfort her, but at the same time had big, silent tears running down his face. I desperately wanted to reach out and hug them or comfort them and tell them that it would be okay, whatever it was...eventually it would all be okay.
Those feelings were definitely instinctual, spiritually instinctual and real. I felt so grateful for them, grateful to be the child of a Father who loves his children and who has such great expectations that we learn to love as he does.
Anyway, I'm not sure where I'm going with this...I've been sitting in the airport for about 7 hours and had lots of time to do lots if things, including my own little anthropological study. So there you have it.
I do love you all and would do anything for you! And it's not because evolution made me this way!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
HISTORY
A Little History:
Our story begins in Pocatello, Idaho, circa 1972, when the lovely Debby Christensen agreed to a first, though fateful date with admirer, David Croshaw. Long story-short, he bade her follow him, and they went arm-in-arm to the Logan, Utah temple for establishment of an eternal family unit, Generation 1, on May 23 1973.
From their first blissful summer in Salt Lake City, educational pursuits took them to Provo/Orem, Utah, birthplace of Leslie and Rebecca, and to San Francisco/Oakland California, birthplace of Colin and Matt. Then, for establishment of livelihood, expansion of the tribe with Abby and Dana, and for raising/unifying of Generation 2, it was back to the roots in Pocatello for a rewarding sojourn.
In time, driven by a raging, but commonly shared sense of adventure and independence, one-by-one, Generation 2 escaped the homeland to distant regions of the country and the world, each ultimately developing their own tribal expansions by pairing with worthy mates and initiating Generation 3.
Now sensing fulfillment of their purpose in Pocatello, Generation 1 has also left those roots and transplanted to Cascade Idaho, from which base, they anticipate more abundant contact with The Posterity, Generations 2 and 3, in the future. That contact however, awaits fulfillment of a call to LDS missionary service in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wherein they hope to help the state of the world by sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
So now, including Generation 0 (Grandma and Grandpa Christensen) home base includes Yuma, Arizona, Pocatello, Idaho, Cascade, Idaho, Vancouver, BC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spokane, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Los Angeles, California, back to Boise, Idaho, and on and on (Generation 3+) to infinity.
Our Mission Statement:
This is the blog of our eternal family unit. Initiated years ago, it served well as a journal, but even more so, as an archive of our personal interaction. It was a gathering place, a confabulation instrument, a unifying force for four generations of widely dispersed and progressively prolific posterity, and their valued associates. Though it served these purposes well for many years, it eventually took a back seat to new-kids-on-the-block, Facebook, and Instagram, and was sadly forgotten.
We now move to resurrect this blog with an added functional purpose of archiving the missionary experiences of Generation 1, of their movements and activities as they participate with The Gathering of Israel in the land northward. In so doing, we hope that via their own comments and posts, this blog will again serve to gather and unify the posterity and their friends.
As in the past, that the young and vibrant may know the old and tired, that enduring bonds may be fostered and maintained, that experience and encouragement may be openly shared, that posterity may embrace truth, and that hearts may be knit together, we must resist detachment despite our geographic divergence. We shall do so here.
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3 comments:
Spiritual meditation is a great thing. It opens our hearts and minds to the Spirit who may then provide us all sorts of revelation about our eternal characteristics and purpose.
Thanks for this post Leslie,
Dad
Great thoughts Leslie. I'm sorry you have that long in an airport, but it is a great place for people watching and thinking.
Thanks for sharing, Leslie! This was a boost to my hectic day. I would actually love to have 7 hours to spend in an airport. It's kind of nice when we're forced to slow down and be still. It gives us a chance to notice the little things.
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