Epiphanies are great!

   I just love it when my mind completely blanks and I can't think what to say next and then something profound just pops out of my mouth. Have you ever had that happen?
   Just the other day I was trying to explain to someone what it was like to gain a spiritual witness of something. I couldn't quite find the words so I tried to think of something to compare it to. Before I could think of anything my mouth decided to go for it. So out came an explanation that it was like building trust in a friendship. At first you don't know how trustworthy they are, but over time, as you listen to what they say and see how well it works, you begin to trust them. Right? You don't just trust some stranger on the street, do you? Well, it's the same way with learning to trust the Holy Spirit. As I've gotten to know how the Spirit speaks to me and as I've follow the impressions he gives, I've gained trust in him. The Holy Ghost has never lied to me. The more I've become familiar with him, the more I've come to know he can't lie, and he's always right. I didn't just start trusting everything he said from the first. My trust and faith has grown as I've tried out what he's said, until it has grown to where it is now, and it keeps growing each and every day.
   Pretty cool, isn't it? I'd never thought about it like that before, so I'm glad my mouth ran in front of my mind this time. I learned something new!
   So for you readers out there, how have you learned to trust the Spirit?

......Awkward......

   The other day, a missionary told me he thought starting out a blog by saying "As a missionary..." was boring and uninteresting.... I'm about to be boring and uninteresting!
   As a missionary we talk to a lot of people every day. Sometimes it can be very awkward. If you've ever felt awkward talking to missionaries like me on the street, just know the feeling was probably mutual. But I like the saying "delight in awkwardness" -it's going to happen, so just deal with it, right? Okay, maybe it's not always awkward, in fact that's what I felt like sharing today.
   I don't care for awkwardness, but when I first meet someone, it seems there's a little switch that goes off in my head, turning me into "awkward mode." I was thinking about it the other night before going to bed, how strange that little switch is, and how to turn it off. Here's what I came up with. If we realize that we are all beloved children of God, then we are all brothers and sisters, and if I can see everyone who is walking down the street the way I see my immediate family then all of the sudden I become much more relaxed. I'm less afraid to be myself and more interested in the person I'm talking with. Instead of thinking "what am I going to say?" it turns into, "hey! There's my brother, let's go see how he's doing! I'm so happy to see him!" When people say mean things it doesn't hurt as much, and I still want the best for them. Just like if I were a little kid and got in a fight with my sister- we'd be best friends ten minutes later. It's awesome!
   What helps you get out of awkward mode?