The best thoughts of men are those they don't share

It is probably ironic that I'm posting under such a title. I guess that is for you to decide.

Last week was a very uninteresting week for me. The first half of the week seemed fairly boring and as such I didn't bother posting last Thursday. To be truthful, a whole lot didn't happen so I guess nothing was lost eh?

Major events of last week:

Road tripping to OKC

As a law school student living on OU's campus a majority of my transit is either between my apartment and the law school or between my apartment and the institute. Opportunities to travel abroad, or out of Norman, are fairly scarce and usually lead to 1904 Cowboy Ct. in Stillwater. Shortly after I received my mission call I received a visa application, to Suriname, from the church. It stated that I needed to go get passport immediately and to get my information sent to the church as soon as possible. In order to get my passport though I needed an "official" birth certificate. Apparently the one I had was not official enough?

So, recognizing this need and having criminal law canceled for the day, I got in my car and headed up to Oklahoma City so I could request two official birth certificates. Before leaving town though I had to stop and get gas and fill up my tires. Luckily, for me, while I was filling my tires a guy was pushing his car up to a gas pump. I got the opportunity to help him push his car into the gas station. It is always nice to be able to serve others especially when those opportunities fall into your lap.

I got to the Oklahoma Health Department some time around 11:30am. I then proceeded to stand in line for an hour before I could even file my request for my birth certificate. After that I was forced to wait for them to call my number and help me get my birth certificates. I received my birth certificates shortly before 3pm. I was there just under four hours with absolutely nothing to do but think.

Luckily, I was able to get my birth certificates drive to the local post office and get my passport application submitted and paid for. If I have my way, I'd love to have my passport sitting in Stansbury when I get home for Spring Break. This would allow me to finish up my visa application and have one less thing standing in the way of my mission.

Service Project at the Hack's

On Saturday the ward got together and met at the Brother and Sister Hack's for a service project. Brother Hack is a member of the ward bishopric and currently holds the office of the first counselor to the Bishop. Bro. Hack is one of the most friendly and nice men I have ever met. He took the initiative to introduce himself to me my first week in the ward and since then he always takes the time to talk with me. I can testify that he is an instrument in the hands of the Lord as it was his thoughtful questions at the right time that got the ball rolling in a certain area. Truly, as I have stated before, he is one of the greatest men I have ever met. We got the opportunity to serve him rather then having him serve us for once.

When we arrived at the Hack's we had breakfast. The breakfast was good and I enjoyed it quite a bit. After breakfast, we gathered together outside under the guise of taking a group picture and then we announced to Bro. Hack that we were there to serve him and help him get some of his yard work done. We worked until about 1pm and then we had lunch. After lunch, I headed home so I could get some significant work done on my paper. I feel safe saying that everyone who attended the service project had a really good time.

Fast Sunday at the Single's Ward

The goals of a Single's Ward, in my opinion, are rather simple to ascertain. First, the Single's Ward is to provide a place from single members of the church to meet together with people of their own age. Second, the Single's Ward provides a place where members are able to grow temporary and spiritually. Finally, and in some people's minds the most important reason for a Single's Ward, is to get all the singles together and hopefully all married off. I had almost forgotten this last and maybe most important goal.

Since the ice storms of January, I have made a great effort to walk to church more often. I believe there has been one Sunday and very few Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays where I have actually driven this semester. Not only has this helped save gas but it has also given me a bit of exercise and a chance to think. Consequently, Lena and I have walked together to church a few times as our paths converge. This lead us to sitting next to each other during Sacrament and various other meetings.

This last Sunday, or yesterday, I had to be at church early for a personal priesthood interview (PPI) as such Lena and I weren't able to walk together and we arrived at the institute at different times. I choose my normal seat, middle section second row second chair from the left, and Lena choose to sit somewhere else for sacrament meeting. Funny enough, someone came up to me and asked if Lena and I had fought or had an argument and that was the reason why we weren't sitting together. I guess I forgot that in a Single's Ward two people sitting by each other are fast tracked to marriage.

Also of note, about Sunday, I got the opportunity to give my testimony in fast and testimony meeting. Interestingly enough, I don't know if I've ever born my testimony before. Perhaps I did it when I was a little kid but I can't remember ever doing it before. I've felt like I needed to do it since last November but I haven't had the opportunity to bear my testimony in the Single's Ward so I kept putting it off and not doing it. So this last Sunday when I had the opportunity I took it and I'm glad I did.

Rough Draft of The Paper

The capitalization of the above is not a mistake. As kind of a capstone for Legal Writing & Research each one L is required to write a 30+ page appellate brief on the two legal issues assigned by the program. I call it The Paper because it may be the worst paper I've ever had to write. Not only is it super long but it is mentally draining. I actually finished my rough draft this morning about 8:40am and turned it in before the due time of 9:15am. It is just an extensive project and because of it, and perhaps some bad time management on my part, I wasn't able to read the required readings for class today. So I took an absence in one class and in the other I signed the roll stating I was unprepared and thus I was safe from being called on. A strong start to the week? No, but it'll do. The Paper is due on March 15th, my birthday, and I plan to turn it in hopefully a few days in advance so I don't have to worry about it just before I fly back to Salt Lake City.


The best thoughts of men are those they don't share

I am a thinker. That statement is not intended to convey some sort of prestigious title upon myself but rather to denote that I think. I think a lot. I also like to share, to talk, to let others know what I am thinking. I've come to believe that this must be a Nielson trait, or perhaps Hunt, as all the other members of my family seem to be the same in this regard. We over think and then we share. A lack of censorship, coupled with over active brains lead us to interesting outcomes. For example, my father, when announcing a ward water slide party, told everyone that he always thought it was interesting to see what everyone looked like at such an event. To no one's surprise the women of the ward did not wear swimming suits that year.

Pondering about this trait of mine, I came to the conclusion that perhaps the best thoughts of men are those that we keep to ourselves. Not because we have then refused to share our deepest most intimate thoughts, but rather because we have learned what is and what is not appropriate to be said and thus censor ourselves when necessary. I still lack the ability to self censor sometimes and hopefully I can develop this ability with time and diligence. Of course our thoughts are to be shared but only when appropriate and proper.

For any of those out there that I have offended because of my lack of tact, or censorship, I offer a profuse apology. Mainly because I probably don't know I've offended you.

One Love and Many Thanks