Comments on: Francis and the walk-by flirting http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/ "Hitch your wagon to a star." —Ralph Waldo Emerson Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:42:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Ben http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58490 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:56:19 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58490 e: Glad you liked it. :) Janet: Wow, that's cool. :) I really like that thought -- and it makes sense. Really. Fascinating... e: Glad you liked it. :)

Janet: Wow, that’s cool. :) I really like that thought — and it makes sense. Really. Fascinating…

]]> by: Janet http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58482 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:10:14 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58482 Ben, This is fast becoming my all time favorite post because it has caused some very unexpected thoughts... We know that God gave us our imaginations which allows us to experience things vicariously. We know that vicarious and imagined experiences can have a very real emotional and physical effect on us. We know that we are going to be judged for our thoughts which includes our imagination. Therefore our imaginations will in part determine our eternal reward or punishment. As I was thinking about this, I started to think about the process that Christ went through to accomplish the atonement. In some inexplicable way, he experienced all of our pain and suffered for our sins, "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit... and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink... Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men" D&C 19: 16-19. Could it be that Christ's Godly attribute of a perfect imagination was an integral part of the atonement? Could it be that our own imaginations are vital to our becoming perfected? It is our imagination that allows us to hope, to dream, to become and to strive for perfection. Imagination provides us with the ability to be empathetic and charitable. It is food for our feelings. I am starting to understand that the gift of imagination is one of the tender mercies of the Lord. I had never thought about imagination this way before and I have a new found sense of gratitude for the wonderful gift of my imagination. Thank you for planting the seed for these beautiful inspiring thoughts. Ben,

This is fast becoming my all time favorite post because it has caused some very unexpected thoughts…

We know that God gave us our imaginations which allows us to experience things vicariously. We know that vicarious and imagined experiences can have a very real emotional and physical effect on us. We know that we are going to be judged for our thoughts which includes our imagination. Therefore our imaginations will in part determine our eternal reward or punishment.

As I was thinking about this, I started to think about the process that Christ went through to accomplish the atonement. In some inexplicable way, he experienced all of our pain and suffered for our sins,

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit… and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink…
Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men” D&C 19: 16-19.

Could it be that Christ’s Godly attribute of a perfect imagination was an integral part of the atonement? Could it be that our own imaginations are vital to our becoming perfected? It is our imagination that allows us to hope, to dream, to become and to strive for perfection. Imagination provides us with the ability to be empathetic and charitable. It is food for our feelings. I am starting to understand that the gift of imagination is one of the tender mercies of the Lord.

I had never thought about imagination this way before and I have a new found sense of gratitude for the wonderful gift of my imagination. Thank you for planting the seed for these beautiful inspiring thoughts.

]]> by: e http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58454 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:16:22 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58454 Ha ha, splendid! Ha ha, splendid!

]]> by: Ben http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58417 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:04:08 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58417 Janet: Agreed, fiction is far more pertinent and useful than some give it credit for. Donna: Talking is definitely worth more (on the dating scale) than most activities, which is why I think my favorite type of date is just a simple walk. Caveat: that's only if it's clicking. I can talk forever with some girls, but with others it's insanely hard to sustain a conversation, and with that sort, a walk is more awkward than it's worth. (And before I get roasted for not trying hard enough to be interested in said girls, stop. I do try. But sometimes it just doesn't work, no matter how hard you try.) Janet: Agreed, fiction is far more pertinent and useful than some give it credit for.

Donna: Talking is definitely worth more (on the dating scale) than most activities, which is why I think my favorite type of date is just a simple walk. Caveat: that’s only if it’s clicking. I can talk forever with some girls, but with others it’s insanely hard to sustain a conversation, and with that sort, a walk is more awkward than it’s worth. (And before I get roasted for not trying hard enough to be interested in said girls, stop. I do try. But sometimes it just doesn’t work, no matter how hard you try.)

]]> by: Donna http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58392 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:00:38 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58392 I had to laugh. I thought that I never thought that way. Then I remembered a corny story that happened to me. I remember talking to my roommates right after I ran into my then future husband on the way up the hill to campus by the Brick Oven. I told them I think he likes me that he was walking funny. They laughed and said that he walks that way all the time. That day I walked up to campus at the same time, occurred after we had spent many, many hours talking, the day we met, and getting to know each other, sharing our vision of the future. That talk was worth way more than several dates, because it was not distracted by activities. My roommates were right, but so was I. He walked kind of like he was in love, but then again, he really was. We were engaged less than a week later, and sealed less than 2 1/2 months later. He was a month shy of 26 and I was 22 1/2. Back then, a 26 year old male that was still single was a menace to society. So dating was for the purpose of actually getting to know people and at his age, to be serious about finding a future wife. This month we celebrate or 30th wedding anniversary! Unlike Francis, we did not get distracted, like a butterfly by anything that moves, but acted. I had to laugh. I thought that I never thought that way.

Then I remembered a corny story that happened to me. I remember talking to my roommates right after I ran into my then future husband on the way up the hill to campus by the Brick Oven. I told them I think he likes me that he was walking funny. They laughed and said that he walks that way all the time. That day I walked up to campus at the same time, occurred after we had spent many, many hours talking, the day we met, and getting to know each other, sharing our vision of the future. That talk was worth way more than several dates, because it was not distracted by activities.

My roommates were right, but so was I. He walked kind of like he was in love, but then again, he really was. We were engaged less than a week later, and sealed less than 2 1/2 months later. He was a month shy of 26 and I was 22 1/2. Back then, a 26 year old male that was still single was a menace to society. So dating was for the purpose of actually getting to know people and at his age, to be serious about finding a future wife. This month we celebrate or 30th wedding anniversary! Unlike Francis, we did not get distracted, like a butterfly by anything that moves, but acted.

]]> by: Janet http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58379 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:10:23 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58379 Ben, Thank you for this post. I really like it. It is a reminder of how much our very real personal lives are played out in our minds. I love the fact that God endowed each of us with imaginations but cautioned us to guard how we use them. "As a man thinketh..." Our imaginations allow us to be vulnerable while we experience situations vicariously then invent the version of the person that we want to become before we act on our thoughts. The vulnerability of the character in your story was also a very timely reminder that the sons of God have tender feelings that are all too often overlooked or misinterpreted by his daughters. Thank you! I like Rikkers suggestion for the ending. Ben,

Thank you for this post. I really like it. It is a reminder of how much our very real personal lives are played out in our minds. I love the fact that God endowed each of us with imaginations but cautioned us to guard how we use them. “As a man thinketh…” Our imaginations allow us to be vulnerable while we experience situations vicariously then invent the version of the person that we want to become before we act on our thoughts.

The vulnerability of the character in your story was also a very timely reminder that the sons of God have tender feelings that are all too often overlooked or misinterpreted by his daughters. Thank you!

I like Rikkers suggestion for the ending.

]]> by: Donna http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58289 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:17:51 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58289 Mr. Darcy strikes again. No Walter Mitty. Both. Something that could be found an Arbinger Institute Book. Mr. Darcy strikes again. No Walter Mitty. Both. Something that could be found an Arbinger Institute Book.

]]> by: Ben http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58064 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 05:05:49 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58064 Um... ~awkward silence~ Just kidding. No, it's not autobiographical. At least not that I know of. I hope. Oh, drat. :P Um… ~awkward silence~

Just kidding. No, it’s not autobiographical. At least not that I know of. I hope. Oh, drat.

:P

]]> by: Katherine M http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58063 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 04:30:37 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58063 "Consider it reality lit. Except it’s not reality — in fact, for the literalists among you, be warned that this is a satire. I hope that’s all the disclaimer I’ll need. ;)]" By this we are to understand that the piece is not autobiographical? “Consider it reality lit. Except it’s not reality — in fact, for the literalists among you, be warned that this is a satire. I hope that’s all the disclaimer I’ll need. ;)]”

By this we are to understand that the piece is not autobiographical?

]]> by: Ben http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58040 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:07:31 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2007/12/17/francis-and-the-walk-by-flirting/#comment-58040 Rikker: Thanks, and you're right. This (good feedback) is one of the reasons I posted it. :) I'll fix the ending before I send it out tonight, and when I do, I'll post the revised part. Carma: I think it's safe to say that I <i>own</i> awkward. :P Glad you liked it. Rikker: Thanks, and you’re right. This (good feedback) is one of the reasons I posted it. :) I’ll fix the ending before I send it out tonight, and when I do, I’ll post the revised part.

Carma: I think it’s safe to say that I own awkward. :P Glad you liked it.

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