Plain and simple, a bad haircut is just bad. More often than not, if you are the victim of the heinous “crime” of an unruly trim, it may seem like all hope is lost and that nothing can be done. Being the victim of one such offense, I learned some valuable lessons about myself, about life, and about God.

LESSON ONE: Communication Is Key

Although I was very clear about how I wanted my hair to be cut, I don’t think the stylist understood and ended up doing something very different than what I asked her to do. In hindsight, I should have said something to her as she was finishing up, but I was so shocked at the outcome of the cut that the last thing I wanted to do was stay in the salon any longer than I needed to.

One of the things I do at work is help companies unearth their why or purpose. It is my passion, and I love seeing this come to life. At the conclusion of this discovery, there are no two that are alike. Every single business is just a little different — even when they are in the same industry. This is important because each business needs to stay true to this "why" or purpose when branding and marketing. If it doesn't, then, over time, it will begin to falter and ultimately fail. Fail meaning, working without clarity, motivation, passion and unity.

What about our spiritual why or purpose?

"But this much I can tell you, that if you do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not." (Mosiah 4:30)

I read this scripture quite randomly one day, and like a magnet, four words captured my attention and pulled me in: watch; observe; continue; remember. So what was King Benjamin trying to convey? If you have not done so recently, I encourage you to reread Mosiah 2-4.

Have you ever seen an actual potter throw clay on a wheel? If you haven’t, you should. Allow yourself a moment to enjoy the spectacle; Google it.

Did you do it? It is really an amazing scene to behold. I am impressed by how a cold lump of dirt in the right hands can be fashioned into something uniquely beautiful and well proportioned, or how the slightest calculation of the fingers immediately and drastically impacts the course of the clay. Perhaps this is why God commanded Jeremiah to go to a potter’s house to physically view the labor in action before making the proclamation, “Behold as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand” (Jeremiah 18:1-6). The visual is a strong portrayal of God’s perfecting on our life.

Recently, when crossing the U.S.-Canadian border on a Sunday morning visit to the Windsor Branch in Ontario, I was asked a surprising question.

After waiting in line, I finally was given the green light to proceed to pull my car up to the border patrol officer's booth. I handed him my passport, and after he scanned it he simply said “The Church Of Jesus Christ.” I was surprised by his statement but answered, “Yes.”

I assumed, but never asked, that my passport must be associated with crossing the Canadian border because I’ve regularly traveled to the Six Nations and Muncey missions, and I’m therefore connected with The Church. Nevertheless, the officer asked where my wife and I were going, and we explained that we were visiting the Windsor Branch for Sunday worship service.

As our children return to school, they may hear words of instruction that direct them to "Run, Hide, Fight." This protocol has been developed to create a safety procedure if an intruder enters a school setting and poses a threat. My daughter, a senior in high school this year, told us this was discussed on the first day of school. I was not surprised, and I was glad that safety measures are implemented.

Things have changed greatly since I went to school. We had fire drills but never lockdown drills.

Today's article is another installment in Brother P.'s column, "Lessons From the Nursing Home."

In the nursing home, I spend my days walking with people, and often we talk during those walks. Here's a phrase that I hear from time to time: “I do not want to go to the doctor’s office because they might find something.” Have you ever heard someone say that? Have you ever said that? It really cracks me up when they say this because I understand the sentiment!

Have you ever noticed how active and prescriptive God is?

“Fear not, neither be thou dismayed…arise, go…” (Joshua 8:1)

“Be not afraid…” (Jeremiah 10:5)

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44)

God speaks in verbs and actions. He commands. He describes. He explains. Though He may be sitting on His throne, He certainly isn’t twiddling His thumbs. He’s doing. He’s watching. He’s working. He’s opening doors. He’s fulfilling His promises.

Recently we read the summaries from GMBA Campout, where one of the themes of the week was peace, using Philippians 4:7 as the basis. The peace of God surely does pass all understanding; it is the only true peace.

There are two ways we can pass it to others — by actions and by words.

We all go through tough times. None of us are immune to them. In the moments I feel weak or uncertain about what’s to come, I turn to God for comfort. I want to know He is there, that He’s listening, and He has a plan. God most often speaks to me through song, so I put together a list of 10 hymns that give me comfort when life gets hard.

10. My Lord Can

I love the many examples this song provides of what God can do. We often find ourselves with problems to which we can’t fathom a solution, but God can. He can do the impossible.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17)

Recently our family spent a warm summer evening together at a lantern festival. For these events, participants gather at a local county fairground in a wide-open field with blankets, lawn chairs, coolers, and picnic baskets listening to live music until the sun sets. Each person is given a paper lantern to decorate with personal dreams, wishes, inspirational quotes, and doodlings. At dusk, tiki torches are lit and the excitement begins.

There is a small square fuel cell at the base of each lantern. Once it's lit via the torch, the heat expands and fills the lantern to be released glowing against the night sky.

When the doctor placed my firstborn in my arms, I knew my life would never be the same. I stared into the sweet eyes of this baby boy, and I felt like I was staring into the eyes of an angel. The pure innocence was breathtaking. This baby that I had carried inside of me was now in my arms, and I knew I would do everything I could to protect him.

I felt that same exact feeling when our second son was born, and then our daughter. It's a feeling that is so hard to put into words.

Did you ever have a door literally close in your face? Recently, this happened to me both literally and figuratively. First, here is the literal version.

I was with my family in the Pittsburgh, PA, airport preparing to depart on a flight. We just had a very blessed time at the April General Church Conference. After checking in our luggage, I did not hear the gate number indicated by the agent at the counter. I followed my family, lugging my personal items and lagging behind their quick strides to the train that transports passengers to the concourse where the gates are located. My whole family boarded the train, and as I attempted to get on, the doors immediately shut.

Today's article is another installment in Brother P.'s column, "Lessons From the Nursing Home."

According to Merriam-Webster, "cachexia" is “general physical wasting and malnutrition usually associated with chronic disease.”

In the nursing home, this word “cachexia” is a diagnosis that we see given to a person who is skinny beyond belief. We often call a skin-and-bones person “cachexic” (which is not really a word).

Do you ever wonder why you’re going through a particular trial or hardship? I do. Lots.

I especially wonder when it’s something incredibly difficult for me. Like the time I had an anxiety attack in an airport and I thought my throat was closing, never to open again. Or the time I lost my job due to a company reorganization. Or when I had delivery complications with my son.

In the midst of those situations, I often felt as though God was far from me. But, He also gave me wisdom to understand that somewhere, buried deep in that overwhelming tribulation, there was a lesson. What was He trying to show me, I wondered?