Over the Weekend--Higher Ground and a Banjo Celebrity

Dan and I got away this weekend for a couple of days and a night.  We haven't done this in six years. We went to Southern Virginia University, a liberal arts college with Latter-day Saint values, for two days of classes on gospel topics.  This year's theme was "Journey to Higher Ground".  We went to the a great production of 110 in the Shade, I was able to give a big hug to one of my favorite college professors, we ate meals with new friends, and we just generally enjoyed being in the beautiful Blue Ridge.  Many of the talks were related to the steep path of discipleship.  I love this quote from Elder Jeffrey Holland:

"As the path of discipleship ascends, that trail gets ever more narrow. . . What was gentle in the lowlands of initial loyalty becomes deeply strenuous and very demanding at the summit of true discipleship."

And since I know you're wondering, here are my top six take-away impressions:

• Righteousness is the simplest of lifestyles.
• When it comes to real scripture study we need to pay the price by interrogating them, having a dialogue with them, and relating them to our life now.
• Our duty is to swim (ex. remain faithful, continue serving, feeling gratitude) when we feel inundated with challenges.  It is a waste of energy to wonder why or complain.
• The most protective work is temple work--it is a shield and protection.
• The greatest thing that can be said of us is that we are covenant keepers.
• We know what we have been saved from, but more importantly we know what we have been saved for.

 After that really uplifting experience we came back to Charlottesville for a really fun concert:  Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers. We're no pros, but he was a legitimate banjo player in two styles.  The music was awesome, and it was funny, of course.  It was a little hard to see him because of our bad seats, but thanks to a little zoom here's what he looked like picking' away.