Zen

Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, translated from the Chinese word 禅 Chán to Japanese. This word is in turn derived from the Sanskrit dhyāna, which means "meditation."

So, in essence, these posts will be my meditations. I have other blogs for other purposes, this is for things I think about.

Today I was reading in the Third book of Nephi Seventeenth chapter, fourth verse. Which reads:

"But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the father, for he knoweth wither he hath taken them." (Emphasis Added)

 I believe that every human soul feels lost at times, the thought is so prevalent in poetry and prose that it would be impossible to think otherwise. My favorite example of this comes from the Hymn, "Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy" in which the singers are challenged to act as aids to the Lord in bringing home sailors lost in the tempest. I have often felt lost, and yet the Father has not lost me. In all my wanderings (and I am prone to wander) never have I been far from the thoughts and intents of his heart. I have felt his attention on me, and I have balked from the presence of the Lord as Jonah of old.

It is also comforting to know that in all those wanderings, the hand of the Lord can be seen. For he has planned the routes I took, and made smooth or rough the trail. He has done this not out of spite, or in a fit of fancy, but because he knowing his son's predilections prepared the way for me to return to him, to be visited by the presence of his Son, and then to be healed.

Later, in the eighth verse of that same chapter we read:

"...for I see that your faith is sufficent that I should heal you."

 The savior of the world, man's great intercessor was compelled by our faith to heal these lost and bewildered souls. Having just gone through earthquakes and fire, tempests and tsunami, darkness and despair, I am sure many of them needed healing. But in our own lives there is something we can choose, that will compel the Lord, (by virtue of his nature, and love for us) to heal us. To make us whole once more. He heals their blind, their sick, the lame, dumb and afflicted. We can understand that healing, we can see the results, but more importantly is the prayer he utters afterward.

The savior kneels down and speaks words that no man can utter, no man can write, and their hearts cannot conceive. I have often wondered what it is he prayed for, I hope someday I will discover the answer, but if not, then I have this record that it happened, and the hope, the belief that I will be with him some day and he may tell me, he may show such love, not for the gathered masses, not for prophet or righteous. But for me, his wandering son, and for you.


We are not lost, we are not alone, and we are not forgotten.