It’s National Novel Writing Month – NaNoWriMo. Once again I’m caught off guard. You would think I’d be ready. It’s not like this time of year actually dresses in a Halloween disguise and then jumps out at me in the middle of the night. Well, it kinda seems like it does. Puts on a jack-o’-lantern face and then suddenly, BAM! It turns into a pie. An in-your-face pie with a looming deadline. This year promises to be a writing free-for-all for me. Join the fun at https://nanowrimo.org

In today’s reading in the Book of Mormon –

 I might have shared this before, but the brother of Jared is such a great example Here. He basically says, “I did this the way you said, but we have a problem here.” 

For some people, this would be a crisis of faith moment – if God is perfect, how come I have this problem? Why didn’t he tell me to make it right the first time? I did everything God said, and I still have big problems. BECAUSE I did everything God said, I have problems. Why would God do this to me? 

But the Brother of Jared doesn’t turn away from God, he turns TOWARD him, and asks his questions. Because of his faithfulness, he is blessed with some answers. 

Ether 2 “17 And they (the ships or barges) were built after a manner that they were exceedingly tight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof were tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was the length of a tree; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish. 18 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me, and I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me. 19 And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish. 20 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood.” https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/2?verse=17-20&lang=eng#p17