1 Nephi 1:1 continued
The Reality of Paradox in Mortality: having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; . . .
“ . . . having seen many afflictions in the course of my days”! Now here was a concept I could understand! That certainly described my life. Childhood: painful, lonely, neglected, abused. Teens: painful, lonely, neglected, abused, “sinful.” Young adulthood: painful, confused, compulsive-obsessive, perfectionistic. Adulthood: painful, lonely, abused, abusing, driven, depressed, morbidly obese.
But wait. What did Nephi mean by saying he was also “highly favored of the Lord in all [his] days . . .”? What? Wasn’t it a complete contradiction for him to say that he had seen many afflictions over the course of his lifetime and at the same time still felt highly favored of the Lord in all his days? How could he possibly experience a lifetime of afflictions and still feel “favored of the Lord?” “Highly favored,” at that?
Nephi’s words remained a puzzle to me until I got to 2 Nephi 2:11 and heard his father, Lehi’s explanation of what it means to live a life that is a “compound in all things,” or in other words a synthesis of complementary opposites or opposition.
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first–born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; . . .
Reading Lehi’s testimony cast a brilliant light back on Nephi’s seemingly paradoxical statement. I realized that Nephi was adding his own witness to the truth that life is a paradoxical (mysterious) and amazing blend or “compound in one” of both affliction and favor. As I have been reviewing my life story, I see that is exactly how my life has been also–a combination of both afflictions as well as great favor from the Lord.
I believe this principle is true for all of us, without exception.
Prayerful thought: Lord, help me to remember that life is a compound in one–and that in accepting this reality I am accepting life on Thy terms.
Pt 6 of A Serious Study (of 1 Nephi 1:1) sceduled for May 17.
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