From Paul:

Cycle 9 Week 4

 

Once again, I am impressed by how long this journey seems to be, but also, how quickly time flies. We have enjoyed watching some of the Olympics during the past couple of weeks. There were a couple of events that were really inspiring to me.

 

1.    Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) – Men’s 50 km Mass Start Classic. This amazing athlete scored four individual gold medals during the 2026 Olympics. This 50 km race was very impressive. For most of the race, he and his two fellow Norwegians were together in the first three spots, almost two minutes ahead of any other competitors. During the final lap Klaebo and his compatriot Martin Lowestroem Nyenget had paced themselves ahead of another compatriot, Emil Iverson. Klaebo and Nyenget traded turns taking the lead until the final climb of the final lap. The commentators mentioned that this stretch was named in honor of Klaebo, as the “Klaebo Climb”. And climb it he did! He poured it on with fluid motion, while Nyenget struggled to keep pace. It was powerfully inspiring. Then as Klaebo approached the finish line, he coasted a little after looking behind him, and Nyenget was not to be seen in the distance. Klaebo collapsed in a heap after finishing the race.

2.    Alex Ferreira (USA) – Men’s Freeski Halfpipe. This event is structured in an interesting way. Each athlete has three runs, and they are logged. The tricks are difficult and landing after them seems to be the most likely downfall (pun intended). If an athlete scores low on the first run, they can improve in the second run, and in the third run. The best run is the basis of their final placement. Many athletes in stretching themselves to get on the podium, or to climb a spot higher would see an incremental improvement, while others received a mark of “DNI”, meaning “Did Not Improve”. In contrast to that, Ferreira improved with each run, eventually overcoming the leader on his final run, claiming the gold medal.

3.    Alysa Liu (USA) – Women Single Figure Skating. I was impressed that Alysa, who retired at age 16 for about 2 ½ years, was able to come out of retirement and skate for gold. Most notable about what seemed to me to be a flawless presentation, was her absolute love of what she was doing. She showed no facial expressions of distress or consternation but seemed to just flow with her program in supreme execution and beauty.

Johannes Klaebo was my hero, because his 50 km race victory seemed to me to be like what we are going through. It is a long haul. Yet he was well prepared, and undaunted with his plan to win.

 

We are fortunate in our current marathon that we don’t have anybody to race against. We just must finish. The best part is that we have indications in the “split times” (periodic blood tests) that Doris is responding well to the treatments. This process can take its toll on the mind and heart. Doris is trudging through the psychology of this journey with reliance on faith in our Savior Who suffered more than she is now. He can and does support her in these difficult times. We also enjoy the reassurances from loved ones who share with us that we are in their prayers. We thank the Lord for the gift of prayers.

 

Today at church we sang as a closing hymn, Abide With Me. I felt an upswelling of emotion during the final verse.

 

 

I love this arrangement and presentation of this hymn:

 

Abide With Me

 

1.    Abide with me! fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

2.    Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day.

Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away.

Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me!

3.    I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour.

What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?

Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

 

You may note that there is an interlude between verses one and two in this arrangement, but no interlude between verse two and three. I have interpreted that as contributing to the text, accentuating that we cannot wait for the Lord’s presence, or wait until we might happen to enjoy it, but rather, we need it every passing hour.

 

How we need the presence of the Lord in every passing hour, whether at bedtime, the middle of the night, early morning, or middle of the day. With His presence and comfort from the Holy Ghost, we will prevail.

 

 

From Doris:

 

Many families have mottos. One of our Blackham family mottos came from a decision I made as a teenager to stop gossiping. Gossiping was a favorite teenage girl activity, and it was a hard habit for me to break.

 

I quickly learned that in a group of girls, not gossiping left me with little to contribute to conversations. So, I decided to say something kind every time I was tempted to gossip.

 

This decision has blessed my life over and over again. From it came my life motto, which I shared with our children:

 

“Look for the good and speak of it always.”

 

In the October 2010 General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson shared the following:

 

“I begin with a short anecdote which illustrates a point I should like to make.

A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.

“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”

John looked on but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.

A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John—she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”

John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!” Quote 1

 

“None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions.

There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.” Quote 2

 

I may not always think positive things about others, but I have learned to set those thoughts aside and speak kindly. I hope that in doing so I have blessed lives. Looking for the good and speaking of it always has certainly blessed mine.