Fireweed and forgiveness—It’s all about Jesus

Do you remember how the fireweed bloomed late last summer? Alaskans have a saying that when the fireweed blooms late, winter is coming late. However, I have noticed something different. When the fireweed blooms late, it's because it was a cold summer. When the fireweed blooms early, it's because it has been a warm spring and summer. Think about the record-hot year of the wildfires. The fireweed was all bloomed out in July.

Fireweed blooms are a “lagging indicator.” They reflect what has happened, rather than predict what is coming. In life we have some lagging indicators as well.

A lagging indicator in my life is when I feel unsettled about words I spoke or actions I took that aren’t what they should be. Uncomfortable as it can be, this unsettled feeling–after the action was done– lets me know something needs to change: something in me. Because guilt or discomfort is a lagging indicator, unfortunately, I cannot change the events that have already been completed. But I can change moving forward and shed the discomfort or sorrow from the past.

I can only do this because of Jesus Christ. His Great Atoning Sacrifice makes it possible for each of us to receive peace where we felt sorrow, and create a new path forward. He wipes away our mistakes. Tomorrow can always be a clean slate, because of Jesus. The lagging indicator of guilt, sorrow, or feeling unsettled lets me know something is wrong. Jesus lets me give my sorrow and my poor choices to Him, and I can be a new creature moving forward. This happens in hundreds of incremental ways in my life, bringing me (hopefully) closer to being the person God knows I can be.

Predictive indicators are helpful as well. Weather forecasts are predictive indicators, based on scientific knowledge and technical mapping systems. They are pretty accurate, and let us know and prepare for what weather is ahead.

Predictive indicators in my life are pretty reliable. There are daily actions that predictably lead me to the best choices, peace, and a kind heart, as well as a healthy body and mind. Daily scripture study and prayer keep me close to heaven and provide ready, clear inspiration from the Holy Ghost. Keeping God’s commandments allows Him to help me quickly when I ask. On the physical side, when I exercise every day, all the parts of my body and mind feel better and work better. My probability of a longer, healthier life increases. Age-related diseases take a back seat. These two predictive indicators are things I have to do pretty much every day. When I take a week off from either one, I can feel it. Why would I pass up taking care of myself, when I know what I need to do?

There are pressing things in my life every day that have immediate consequences. These are so pressing sometimes, they may delay me from doing things that I know I need. Should I clean up the kitchen or go for a walk? If I don’t walk I don’t immediately notice the loss, but if I don’t clean up the kitchen, within a few hours my life will feel chaotic. However, after a week, or a month of no exercise, I feel it in many ways: irritability, sluggishness, higher heart rate, and less energy.

Should I read my scriptures or mow the lawn? The lawn grows fast around here and has to be cut when it’s dry. It is time-sensitive. If it isn’t cut on time, it gets so high it’s hard to mow. However, when I don’t take the time to study scriptures and pray, after a week I feel sluggish in my soul. Heaven feels distant, which makes me hesitant to reach up for help and guidance. After a month, I am less resilient in every situation, irritable, and less kind.

It’s easy to bypass the critical for the urgent. But the critical–while simple–accumulates into truly miraculous results. “One drop at a time,” important habits carve out a beautiful and powerful design in our body and soul.

Jesus makes everything better, both the nagging realization that we did something wrong, and the “lift” we receive from Him when we follow His teachings and commandments. Because of Jesus, any indicator that helps us follow Him is powerful, because He is powerful. Any realization that we need to change is powerful because He is powerful. Every opportunity we take to follow His commandments and teachings is powerful because He is powerful.

And how is the fireweed doing today? It’s beautiful and appears to be right on time. But we don’t have to be “right on time,” as long as we keep trying, because of Jesus.

Beth Wright loves Alaskan summers, her family, and Jesus. She is thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.