just how much i could endure.

I usually find most "churchy" poems rather cheesy to the point of a little eye rolling and forced tuning out of the rest of the talk/lesson. but for some reason at the end of Elder Ballard's talk tonight, the poem he shared was one i thought was pretty great. still cheesy, and very churchy, but who doesnt love stellar rhyming like this?...but it really is profound in its own way...it probably stuck out to me cause its exactly what i needed to hear and the theme that has been on my mind lots and lots lately. blast. interesting how that works....which is probably why i for one think this was one of the best CES firesides i have ever heard....hum. anyways, enjoy :)

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day.

It stole the Oak Tree's leaves away.

Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark

until the Oak was tired and stark.

But still the Oak Tree held its ground

while other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,

"How can you still be standing Oak?"

The Oak Tree said, I know that you

can break each branch of mine in two,

carry every leaf away,

shake my limbs and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see

they are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn't sure

of just how much I could endure.

But now I've found with thanks to you,

I'm stronger than I ever knew.

also, can someone teach me 

1. how to approach people

2. how to be normal

and 3. how to not blush every 2 seconds.

thanks. oh and the sooner the better...