Powerful Things...

So I realized this weekend whilst I was on my brief but well spent break that there are some very powerful things over which I hold control.
(1) And this one if quite cliche by now: prayer. Prayer is quite powerful. I wrote prayers this weekend instead of giving a temple talk (and I think it worked), I asked to pray before a very controversial vote at the congregational meeting (for no other reason than to give people a chance to breathe and calm-down), I was asked for (and returned) prayers for my cousin who has surgery on her vocal chords to allow her to not only speak again but also to swallow properly after a surgery on her lymphnodes left her without her vocal chords.
(1a) I learned from these experiences the following: It's easy to ask people to pray for you, and its easy to say you will pray for someone, but to ACTUALLY pray for them is quite different--my prayers included a good many things that I'm SURE my congregation has not prayed for specifically in a while if ever (which I gathered from the reaction I got) and I think I got my point across. Also, apparently there are people who do not think that prayer is very necessary before a big vote in a congregational meeting which is for the use of a HUGE sum of money which is for the betterment of the congregation and the Church at large, (also which I gathered from the attitude I got in return for asking to pray before the vote). And, pray does work, my cousin is fine although she still faces more radioactive iodine for the last two lymphnodes which are attached to her heart (or something like that).
(2) Food. Food is quite powerful. It is how I both formed, sustained, and repaired many a friendship. It's my NUMBER ONE social activity.
(3) Solitude. It can certainly break a man. I have only been back for 24 hours but already I am bored and quite miserable. I need people.

I have learned alot about myself this past week. Some of it I like, some of it I don't. Ah well, life goes on I suppose.

May many powerful things come your way!

JCM