Bury Me In My Boots

Bury me in my boots
Down deep within my grave
They witnessed what life took
And testify to what it gave

Bury me in my boots
In the darkness of the ground
Of all the trails and trials
No more to make a sound

Bury me in my boots
When I lay beneath the earth
They had no choice in the choices
And never once judged me of my worth

Bury me in my boots
They had endured thick and thin
While witnessing the glory of God
And skirting around a life of sin

Bury me in my boots
Don't walk a mile with them on
You'll still not understand the why
Just walk beside me before I am gone

Bury me in my boots
Dusty and worn as they may be
They served and never faltered
In my heart they belong with me

Bury me in my boots
I will wear them to heavens door
In sincere prayer of how I lived
May my boots be cleansed and pure

Bury me in my boots
When death has won the last battle
Brand my pine box and lower it down
Near the Grama grass and grazing cattle

One morning I put on my boots and looked down, with unspoken words conveyed to my boots that we are in this together. I would try as I might to lead them down trails. Dusty maybe, hot, cold most definitely, but I would make a promise to not purposely step into another trial.
My boots know where I have been, why I been there and most importantly what being I am.
I took a photograph and told them when I die I want the reassurance that they would come with me. They hold my accomplishments, my fears, my story.
A story at times that feels more like fiction than a truth. A life with such joys I can't contain myself and times that I live in such confusion that my boots sit in a corner until I can face another day.
The love of God, respect for creatures and judgements of man. These three things  consume me. It used to be, judgements of God, love of creatures and respect for man. But man started to unrighteously judge me, I learned about the love of God and true respect for His creations.
Bury me with my boots on. Became my song or psalms of late. They say we may not be able to fully judge until we walk in someone else's shoes. Then again can we? That one short mile is not an accumulation of a life time. We should walk away from judging and be willing to walk with each other. That is a simple thought in this complex life.
We all must die but first we all must live. We will all get dirty but we need to become pure.
For now I will walk in my own boots. Take my joys and my defeats. And look forward to seeing my Lord and savior in this life or the one to come.

Bury me in my boots
Or I will come from beyond the veil
I will find who denied my wish
And make their life a living hell

It Will Only Leave You Hanging

Peter answered and said unto him, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended".

Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice".

Peter said unto him, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” (Matt. 26:31, 33–36.)

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1979/04/and-peter-went-out-and-wept-bitterly?lang=eng

Jesus became deeply “troubled in spirit.” As they ate, the Savior testified, “Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.” (Luke 22:21; see Matt. 26:21.)

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1990/04/passover-promises-fulfilled-in-the-last-supper?lang=eng

The Lord truly knew these men. He knows us. What we are capable of and what our weaknesses are.

I have been drawn back to thoughts of being true to ones self. Like the examples above the outcome is always the same when we betray ourself we have nothing but sorrow.

I have always enjoyed President McKay's story about finding the stone with the engraving "What e're thou art, act well thy part".

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ykfMvoHu6xA

If there is nothing we can take with us beyond the veil but our thoughts and acts then it is right to be true to ones self.

As I reflect on two different occasion I feel akin to Judas. I have been offered money and position if I would denounce and remove postings from my Facebook page.

It is such a simple request. Heck no one would even notice. These post are old. Who would even notice if they were gone. Who even notices they are still there.

Only me I guess. I would know. Because I would have to find them and remove them.
And the world would be mine.

But what of the world beyond this. Would it have a bearing on it? That is something to ponder.

The posts are truth. And there are times truth hurts. But we are taught to be kind. We are also taught to be truthful.

It is a fine line that we walk daily between being right and righteous.

I read one author that stated Peter never denied Christ only his association with Him. On any account the scriptures said he wept bitterly.

Then there is Judas. Another author put forth the idea that Judas got the exact amount that was owed in taxes and maybe just maybe if he gave the conspiring bunch the Christ and collected the money then paid the authorities Christ could be left alone. We will never know but what we read is he hung himself.

No matter our motives or how slightly we are involved, if we deceive or betray ourselves we live with it.

I believe compromise is a wonderful thing. It shows a willingness to consider others. An open mind and heart to others view and feelings. A give from both sides to say I respect you enough to meet in the middle. But to compromise yourself, values, morals or honesty only states you think nothing of yourself and seek praise or kindness from others.

I reflect on why I post the truth. Most times it is because I see a wrong. Or bullying. I think bullies should be challenged. Be it school yard, family, social group or government. When we don't push back they feel justified and others tend to believe by default the victim must of been in the wrong.
I could just digest what is happening around me. Like they say "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time". We can just bite, chew, swallow and digest. Now we have internalized this thing. It becomes a part of us. Hidden from sight. Is that truth? Hidden? Or we can "talk about the elephant in the room". Give opinions, thoughts, direction, truth.

I believe the only way to fight an untruth is with truth. But more than that the Lord knows I am that way. In my patriarchal blessing it states I have a "love for truth and righteousness". I have a drive for both. I look for and seek out answers to all "elephants" that cross my path.

I believe if you can be bought, it will only leave you hanging.