Convinced But Not Yet Converted

In which we shall see: Talk of both (SPOILER!) Exercise and Religion, and multi-tasking with a combined picture post.

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As part of my renewed commitment to the family weight-loss competition and a goal to work out twice a day as often as possible, I walked to church this morning. It wasn't bad, just a 15-20 minute stroll each way - a little drizzly, but my red-polka-dotted umbrella coordinated with my red coat and black outfit, so that was OK. (Fashion first!) On the way home it occurred to me that I have become truly convinced about the principle of exercise. I recognize that since I've been making it a priority I have more energy, my back and pinched nerve feel much better, my waist is (probably) slimming down a little... I'm convinced, but not converted. I'm exercising not because exercise itself is a good and beneficial thing, but because I'm motivated by the cash reward from the family competition. I hope to be converted by the time the next five weeks are up (when the contest ends) and I expect that I will be and plan to keep working out - but I'm not there yet.

Church today was Stake Conference, and the theme was prepping the whole stake for Youth Conference this summer, with the focus on the Book of Mormon. Our stake has been asked to read the Book of Mormon by June, and several people talked about President Hinckley's challenge a few years back (has it really been that long? Wow). That got me to thinking - how converted am I to the principles of the Gospel? How often am I actively changing because of those principles, and being changed by them? I read the Book of Mormon in 2005 and had a great experience with it - so why has my focus not remained there?

In my missionary set of scriptures I have a note written in the margin of Mosiah 5, which wraps up the teachings and great conference of King Benjamin. It reads: "Being Born Again (i.e., converted) Is a Continual Process." This morning I was glad to be out walking and moving around, and I didn't let the rain deter me - I could be closer to conversion there than I thought. Why is scripture study (let's be honest, scripture "reading") so often just a habit or an obligation, rather than an exciting discovery zone? I've had experiences when I didn't want to put them down, to just keep reading and making notes and feeling my mind and heart open up - how do I make that a regular occurance?

I suppose it's by doing just what the prophets say: Remember the things that you have seen and felt and experienced before, keep going, trust the Lord, and have faith that the conversion with come - as it has before, and as it will again. (Keeping an eye on the final prize doesn't hurt, either.)

Lessons in faith learned in running shoes - who woulda thunk?

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My latest work projects (a review): dummies, pillows, curtains, and fringe. And currently, more fringe. (Plus fringe again.)

I made the tablecloth:


The yellow pillows here are the ones I pieced together. The show's director keeps trying to sneak pillows off the set, and the designer keeps sneaking them back on.
One of my three body bags (they all pretty much look like this) with the re-mummified dummy inside. He's gotten pretty beat up during the course of the show - he was falling apart, so I went in and re-assembled him and then gaff-taped him up but GOOD.

Posing with my re-habbed dummy (as with most pretty males, you've GOT TO PROTECT THE FACE):
The dummy for the next show: He'll make a very dramatic entrance, thrown on stage wrapped up in a curtain, with just an arm hanging out. He's got to flop naturalistically, so the limbs are stuffed with bags of beans. I not only make good-looking fake bodies, I make dummies that can act! (Insert own actor joke here.)
This is a major piece in "Carlotta's Bordello", as we're fondly calling it - it's a dressing-table top that fits over a desk that will already be on stage. I upholstered it with a staple gun, five different trims, and approximately 50 yards of fabric (that's what it seemed like, anyway). There are also four or five pillows to match, and a hugely oversized velvet throw that I'm finishing trimming with (wait for it....) fringe.
Seriously, I'm kind of a set-decor rock star. And I have the pin-scratches and staple gun blisters to prove it.


Watch out for falling bodies (no, seriously) -

Cyd



Coming Soon: tagged random (er, 6-of-6) picture post, review of cheesy dance movie and exploration of "The Gallagher Effect", sheep theories, and yet another rant about men (may be included with the sheep theories).