August 15

The blackberries are beginning to ripen in Washington State. Now, Virginia has wild blackberries, but nothing like they do here. They literally grow like weeds.

And they prompted a pondering the other day as I was doing my morning walk. I reached up and ever so slightly tugged on a darkish one, but it didn't release. I've always figured that a ripe fruit will come off in your fingers if it's ready to be eaten. Before that, it's not quite as sweet as it will be in another day or two.

But that made me think about our life experiences. Sometimes we go through difficulties in our life which are meant to "ripen" us. (I actually can't think of any scriptural support for that analogy at the moment, so not preaching here!) If we lose sight of our goal and the love that motivates our Father in Heaven and give up before the full benefit of the experience is reached, we will have a bitter taste. But if we hang on, if we open ourselves too the lesson, if we "endure to the end," we will mature in our understanding and learn the lessons that will help us continue to progress. They will actually become sweet to us.

There is something of a natural process to our lives. We possess our souls in patience...and there ARE scriptures for that: Doctrine and Covenants 67:13, 101:38, 21:5; 2 Corinthians 6:4, Hebrews 6:12, Mosiah 23:21, Romans 5:3-4 [for those of you without LDS scriptures, you can find these under "Scriptures" at LDS.org].

Perhaps it goes back to a song that was popular back in the "old days" (back when I was a teenager). "Hang on, Sloopy." I'm not sure I recommend the origin or lyrics of that song, but I do know there are days when we simply have to hang on, have faith, and keep trying.