Stupid Things...

Lately I've had my attention called to things that must be of the spirit because that is the only thing that I can think of and while I titled this post "Stupid Things"  they really aren't stupid at all but looking back at my youth I probably would have made fun of the old man crying over "stupid things."
For instance, at church over Independence Day weekend recently, for the closing hymn in sacrament we were singing Battle Hymn of the Republic and I guess either I had not paid much attention to it before, I've become more patriotic, more sensitive to these types of things, or a combination of one or more of the aforementioned reasons, but I started to tear up and coudn't continue singing the rest of the song upon my mutilation (I really can't sing well) of those profound words, "...As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free..."  I love that line and it has stuck with me ever since and has had quite an impact on my sense of what our soldiers, as well as those of other countries, are doing overseas.  We like to say that they are fighting for our freedom but in full respect they are truly fighting to help others be free as most of our wars since the civil war have been.
The other "Stupid Thing" that caused me a fair amount of emotion is a television show that I really don't even care to watch.  Right at the end of a scene where a lawyer wins a case where Hispanic Machismo and how fathers act are talked about in some amount of detail he is asked if he wants to go out for a drink and he replies, "I'm going to take my father out for dinner."  Instantly, my mind went to what I would pay right now to be able to go out and just listen to whatever wisdom my dad was willing to impart to me over a meal.  It was all I could do to keep from sobbing.  Three years and I still miss what my will wants when His will is what matters.