In the first Percy Jackson Movie, Percy and his friends found themselves in the Lotus Casino in Las Vegas (which is no longer there). They were offered lotus flowers and as they partook, they lost all track of time and themselves. Even though this was a movie, the lotus flower and its effects are found in Greek mythology too. Odysseus encountered the people on his trip from Troy. We have some lotus flowers, or people or things that offer us lotus flowers in our modern-day travels too. Let's explore some of them.

Social Media

As much as I hate to say this, social media can, and often is a lotus flower. While there is good (and bad) to be found on social Media, let's concentrate on the good things it has to offer. There are many choices for social media enjoyment. Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest are just a few to mention. I have found much enjoyment, spiritual enlightenment, and sharing the gospel are what attracts me. There are many people who have great insights, share inspiring stories and pictures, etc. And even the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve as well as other Church General Officers have social media presences. So, it can't be that bad. right?

Well, it can be if you let it become your lotus flower. One can start very innocently looking at something and then caught up in all the various avenues that social media has to offer. Soon, one looks up and says, "holy cow, where did the time go?". It can be a lotus flower if one spends their waking hours checking on social media. There are apps that allow one to track the amount of time spend on those sites. If one just could track their time and see how much time is spent actually reading, commenting, sharing, playing online games, etc. As I mentioned on Facebook, "Guilty as charged". My name is Rick Graham and I'm addicted to social media.

Hobbies

Again, this one cuts close to the heart. I have a few hobbies and I like to do them from time to time. One, which I I have yet to do since I moved out here to Utah is Fly Fishing. I hear of the great fishing to be had, but no time. I am also an Amateur Radio operator (Ham), but haven't done anything with that. I used to have a nice base rig and antennas, and would spend literally hours on the radio with contests, chasing that rare country expedition, or listening for 6 meters to open up. Ham radio was a lotus flower for me as I did that at the expense of family and sleep. My wife can attest, that I was up all hours of the night. And finally, my latest hobby of music writing. I mentioned in a previous blog post that I can sit down at my music keyboards and just start playing. The music is like a lotus flower, that I lose track of my time. So, what I am trying to say is that all hobbies can be a lotus flower if we let them.

Church Callings

Now before you start raising eyebrows at me, hear me out. When I was Elder's Quorum President, my time was spent doing visits, reports, meetings, and other church-related activities. The more one magnifies their calling, the more time will be spend to accomplish that. This is a lotus flower too. The rX for this, as well as all of these will be explained now.

The rX, Doctor?

Just like anything that is habit-forming, there are ways to break that cycle. The prescription may not be easy and will require much more that one really thinks about. These are my ideas and not in any way professional advice. ;)


  • Social Media Addiction is real. It is the child of Internet Addiction. Just like a television soap opera, if one spends their time wondering if @LDS_Need_a_boyfriend (not real names, just made up so relax) really will find love or whether her parents will find her social media soliloquy and tell her she's only 14, she's not supposed to have boyfriends. Or whether LDS_Meme_sharer will post something that you can like, comment and share on every social media network known to mankind. Or finally +LDS_Picture_lover remarking about the beautiful picture of the temple at sunrise. The answer is quite simple for all of these cases. In the words of Sister Rosemary Wixom:
Why not choose a time each day to disconnect from technology and reconnect with each other? Simply turn everything off. 
For me, it will be during work hours excepting lunch and other breaks. How sad it really is when people have to communicate to each other via social networking or texts when they are just in the other room! How sad is the person that laments how beautiful a sunrise is at the temple! The answer is get out and experience that sunrise! Experience the blessings of the temple. I love to read about the missionary experiences that people share. They uplift me, but imagine how much more they could be if I took time to actually go on exchanges with the missionaries to feel the spirit first-hand!

  • Hobbies can become an endless source of fun and take extraordinary time from things that really matter. Again, how sad is it that people have to escape from their families to do their hobbies. I know some that have actually said something to the effect of those words. Hobbies can drain personal finances because the latest gizmo or gadget doesn't do something, but the old gizmo is still perfectly good. So, more and more money is sunk into a seemingly innocent hobby. Hobby magazines are the lotus flower because we we and want more and more. The answer for me is to, once again prioritize what is important. As my children are grown up and live on the east coast it is only my wife and I. I owe her as much, if not more time than I did with my family. Actually, when one thinks about it, A husband/wife IS family too!
  • Church callings are necessary. We accept them so we can grow. We accept them because the Lord is showing us another talent that we did not know previously we had. We accept callings to bless the lives of others. And finally, we accept calling because it is the right thing to do. Callings are time-consuming and can and will take you away from social media, hobbies, and other things. If I could recall every blessing I had when I was set apart for a calling, part of that blessing included that I will find the time to do my calling while still enjoying my family and work responsibilities. So, the answer here is balance. If one feels overwhelmed with a calling feeling that there is no time left to do anything else, go talk about it with your Father in Heaven. He has a wonderful listening ear. He will give you counsel and peace. He can make your load lighter.
Out of all the lotus flower examples I mentioned, the church calling is the best lotus flower to consume. It will be the prescription needed for each of our spiritual souls. Because the Lord told us if we do everything we can possibly do here on the earth, we will hear the words:
Well Done, thou good and faithful servant... enter into the joy of my rest
And that is the most desirable lotus flower to partake of.
 






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