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Chester
native Bruce Blanchard, a counselor and faculty member at the Counseling
Center at BYU-Idaho, spoke on principles of approaching life’s
challenges with humility, forgiving those that have wronged us and looking
at obstacles with an eternal perspective in his devotional address Tuesday
at BYU-Idaho.
Blanchard
related an experience he had growing up on a ranch near Chester.
He was asked by his father to herd sheep to another pasture a half a mile
away, something he thought would be a relatively easy task. However, upon
arriving at a stream without a bridge, he found out that his simple task
turned into something more complicated and challenging, being unable to get
the sheep across the small stream.
He
said that life is sometimes similar to this type of experience, going along
thinking things will be relatively simple, only to come across an
unexpected obstacle that gets in the way. While these obstacles may or may
not have been brought on by bad choices, he said everyone has been given tools to help
overcome these challenges that sometimes seem overwhelming.
“At
times in our lives, the trials that we are facing do seem to be very compelling
and confusing,” he said. “It is comforting for me to know that
if I apply correct principles to my challenges, the decisions that I make
can become clearer.”
Blanchard
emphasized that correct principles are general and don’t refer to
specifics. But they help to show the big picture and guide correct
decisions.
Describing
the principle of humility, he said, “Having the ability to honestly
look inside of us to assess our responsibility for our actions is a
character trait that will bless our lives through the eternities.”
He
added, “If we can sufficiently humble ourselves to the point we are
willing to follow the will of Lord, he will guide us through the challenges
we face in our lives. Sometimes pride or relying on our own knowledge
prevents us from hearing the guidance our Heavenly Father is so willing to
give us.”
Turning
to the next principle, Blanchard said, “Forgiveness is not an easy
principle to master, but it is one that will bring great peace into our
lives as we successfully apply this principle.”
He
related an experience of a young women he worked with a number of years ago
who had been hurt badly by a family member, someone she loved and trusted
very much. The hurt she received was manifested through emotional
instability, struggles with interpersonal relationships and feelings of
self-doubt.
Even
though she was very talented and strong-willed, her inability to forgive
this family member caused bitterness and anger to canker in her heart to
the point where almost all aspects of her life seemed to be headed in a
downward spiral.
Through
time, the young women was able to forgive the family member and change the
direction her life was headed.
“It
was not an easy or fast process,” Blanchard said. “But it was
one that when she was successful with, it produced a tremendous feeling of
freedom and peace. The family member that had harmed her initially was
repentant and the beginnings of a new relationship occurred.”
Speaking
next of the ability to have an eternal perspective, Blanchard said that
being able to see the end from the beginning will assist greatly in making
correct choices.
“Having
that knowledge that [Heavenly Father] cares about me and loves me and wants
me to succeed, gives me strength as I face the challenges in my life. Sometimes
the obstacles in my way seem too difficult, but as I approach them with
faith of things eternal, I believe I will learn needed lessons,” he
said.
Blanchard
has worked for the past 10 years as a member of the Counseling
Center faculty. He also served
as director of the center from 1998-2003 and received the division Honorary
Faculty Award in 2002. He received an associate degree from Ricks
College, a bachelor’s
degree in social work from Brigham
Young University,
and master’s degree in social work from the University
of Utah.
Devotionals
are broadcast live on KBYI 100.5 FM Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and are rebroadcast Tuesdays and Sundays at 9 p.m. Next week’s devotional speaker
is Robert M. Wilkes, Student Life vice president at BYU-Idaho.
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