A Mighty Change of Heart

Alma the younger talks about his mighty change of heart in the story of his conversion, well mine isn't that drastic, but it was pretty meaningful. And yes this is going to be gospel related for those of you who don't care to read just tune in next time.
To say this night was interesting would be putting things lightly. But perhaps I should start with the beginning of the day first. Fairly normal I woke up at 0530 and got ready for PT. We did some grappling and ground combat related exercises. Well not feeling so great, like I do, I threw up... 3 times. The work day was normal. We looked for missing books and did some paper work. The closing of the day comes around and oddly enough things are about to start on a path that eventually leads to the point of this blog. Due to some scheduling error... made by some NCOs, who will stay anonymous in this blog, there was a duty that needed to be filled by a Marine from my office. Well seeing as I probably wasn't going to do anything tonight and not wanting anyone else to suffer I graciously volunteered.
Now some back ground to this story... I'm a Marine. And being so I've made some stupid choices, making me very puffed up and prideful. But unwilling to admit there was anything wrong I continued in my ways and thought nothing of it. Oh MAN did the Lord prove me wrong....
So back to the duty. Tonight was Monday night... FHE/institute night. My good friend Debbie was debating going and was going to stay with me instead of going. But due to a great Cpl on duty with me she said that I could go to it if I wanted... Well there was the thought that crossed my mind that "Heck NO I'm not going!" but again I was proven wrong. Just goes to show don't think things are going to turn out YOUR way...
Debbie being the person she is *cough* *cough* changed her mind at the last minute and so I decide to go with her. One simple decision... That's all that made the difference. It's what now has me walking around with a penny in my boot and thinking that it's quite annoying at times... but I'll get to that in a moment.
Considering this is too late to save from being a long story made short I will trudge on. Well there ends up being a new girl... well woman... Marine...? at FHE... You know it's crazy how the Lord puts certain people in our path to direct us where to go... Well he struck again. Chandra House.... Now I didn't think anyone could possibly understand some of the things I'm going through, but there was a connection there. You know how you meet certain people and it just clicks. Like you were friends before you came to this earth? Well I think that's what this is. I've only felt it once before and that was with my "sister" Lesly Hiatt.... 2 1/2 hours I sat in a Honda and we just talked. And calm finally returned to my life, and heart. I never thought I would or could ever forget how the Spirit of the Lord feels... but I had and tonight I felt it's warmth in my heart for the first time in awhile.
Talk about a complete 360! Or at least a 180... I'm not saying that I'm going to be completely good and well and fine... but now I know what it is I need to work on. And it's a lot and it's going to be difficult, but there are definitely supports and strength from those around me that I can draw upon... Now to the penny in the boot...
In ending Chandra left me with a simple challenge... at least it seemed simple in the car. Put a penny in your boot. Every time you feel that penny pray. No matter where you are or what you are doing. No matter if it's a silent prayer in your heart or one said aloud. No matter the length, be it short or long.
Now if I had know exactly the annoyance of a penny in my boot and how many times I feel it as it slides around I'd probably not have taken up the challenge. Because I'm here to tell you that you pretty much feel it all the time. So you're pretty much praying all the time. Which in the end isn't a bad thing... but the penny is still annoying.
Everything seems serial. Like I will wake up in the morning and find out that it was all a dream and that none of it happened. Perhaps that's why I called my "sister" Lesly to talk about it. And slowly as I talked to her I realized some of my follies. Pride... Now pride is the downfall of Nations, and my fall to where I am today. But now I know and am on the process of humbling myself. I have two very dear friends that the Lord saw fit to send into my path. And for that I will be eternally grateful. Crazy the circumstances that put you places to meet specific people...
Well now that I've rambled on for a good bit about my night and all that it was I will bid farewell until I write again
~SHASTA