I may always be poor, but I'll never be broke!

I have a lot of dreams in my life and A lot of ambitions. However, I've never aspired to become a wealthy man and really don't think that I ever will be.  I of course want to make enough money to support a family and have enough time and resources to serve in the Church and help those in need, but I don't need an excess amount of anything and I hope that I can be generous with the little I'll have.


With that being said, I sure hope and pray that I can find a beautiful, and considerate girl someday that will be willing to scrape out an existence in pure poverty. :)  Well, we won't be destitute, I can promise her that and I'll always work as hard as possible to make sure that she has all that she needs, but I won't be able to give her castles or kingdoms.  This poem I wrote means a lot to me because it comes sincerely from my heart.  I hope that it illustrates that there are far, far more important things than money, or material objects.  I pray that it shows that love is strong, and real in any circumstance, and that It can endure the most dismal of financial situations.

It was a cold day in Canada on my Mission when I wrote this.  I was just about to return home, and I was so unsure of so many things.  I had so many questions, and so many insecurities.  Where was I going to work?  How was I going to have any money? How would I get around? How would I afford anything?  What was I going to do for school? How would I pay for it?

It seemed that I had little by way of prospects, and with 1 Canadian Toonie and 1 Loonie (3 Canadian dollars in total) to my name, I wondered how I could ever make it.  I of course dream of someday being in love with a wonderful girl and making a beautiful life for her, but how could I possible ever make it?  As I read of a similar thought process of Elder Jeffery R. Holland, when returning from his mission I was inspired.  In that talk he quoted Winston Churchill when he said "I have nothing to offer, but blood, toil, tears, and sweat"  Elder Holland commented further and said "I thought to myself, I have as much blood, tears, and sweat as anyone" When I read that I determined in my mind... I do as well and let's go bleed, cry, and work it out. So here I am, trying to work my best, giving all I have for a future like this. :)


"Not Much"


I've counted it up, and it's really not much
It's just a few dollars, some knick knacks and such
An old beater car with an old broken heater,
A whole heap of people saying "How will he feed her?"


I've counted it up, and it's almost too much
between the water, and heat, and the housing and such
temporally speaking I don't have much to give
I could barely provide what we'd need just to live


I've counted it up, and i'm not a safe bet
there will be lots of comforts and things you won't get
I can't guarantee a luxurious way, 
we probably will struggle just about every day


But i've counted it up, and i've got more than enough
ambition and desire, among other stuff
if nothing else, I know this is true
There could never be anyone who loves you more than I do!


I can give you my efforts and work towards dreams,
be the first to the bedroom when our little one screams
be the first out the door when we forget garbage day, 
sing you love songs and cook dinner when you've had a bad day.


And then when we're struggling i'll just take your hand,
and i'll tell you our hopes, and the dreams that we've planned
and i'll give you a kiss and assure it's okay,
and then go out and work, so it happens that way.


YES, I've counted it up, and it's really not much
for vacations and cars, and nice clothing and such.
But, I really don't care if I have all those things
or half of the stuff they say money can bring


We may never have much, but I promise you love
and a life filled with goodness, and consent from above
and as for those critics, We'll quiet those folk
We may always be poor, but we'll never be broke.

My Vow

I always carry with me in a pocket or bag, a little black moleskin notebook.  Throughout the day, as I have thoughts, or bits of inspiration, usually things that are only significant to me, I write in my little black book.

It was a darker day on my mission, when I was especially frustrated, with the work, the people, other missionaries, myself.  A day when I was struggling to decide what I would make of myself, and who it was that I wanted to be.  It seemed so easy to just coast through my mission, through my life.  It was a day I witnessed people participate in some of the most demeaning actions towards their fellow brethre, belittling them, devaluing their God given worth.  I remember as I sat on the side of a road that day I scribbled out some thoughts about who it is that I wanted to be.  These thoughts turned into this poem, and then this poem eventually became the foundation of the creed that I have decided will dictate my life.

I vow today to fight for truth,

for love, for hope, for faith, and youth

To always stand on the side of good

to learn to love, that which man should

To always smile when the sun is gone,

to apply my brain, my heart, my brawn

To lift all those who look for light

to sit with those in their darkest night

To always be going in the way I should

To ever be pondering "have I done all I could?"

To wear out my love, for the life of the soul

to put in the time and the effort and toll

To never tear down but to always make stronger

my brother in need who cannot stand much longer

To not only speak, but to say and to live

to not keep for myself, what I can and should give

To hesitate never when faced with a choice

to sacrifice all when I hear needy voice

I Vow today to take a stand,

against burying virtue in the dust and sand

I vow not to idle when I see goodness mocked

when purities trampled and kindness is knocked

When that which is vulgar is disguised as the clean

When masses accept the dirty, filthy, obscene.

When the perceptions of most, find false right in the wrong

when evil creeps into speech action and song

When the wholesome's considered cheap tawdry and naught,

when men flee to their comforts, when there are wars to be fought

When few, if any,will take a stand,

I Will not flinch!  But I'll be a good man!

Who will not give into the popular view

but will cherish and give, all I have to the true

And if I exaust my whole life, without rest

just trying and doing and seeking what's best

I may never change, the hearts of the more

but perhaps I could be, as a wave on the shore.

that consistently comes to beat upon land,

and with each pursuit chips away at the sand

and washes away just a bit at a time

all the rubbish, and driftwood, the waste and the slime

This is my vow to be steady and sure

to be diligent, righteous and not only endure

but to thrive and to battle and fight for the truth

For love, and for faith, and for, hope, and for youth.