Amen and Amen

Once, when our boys were small, I can remember Devin looking around the chapel during Sacrament Meeting. He looked at me and said that he was trying to see how many people wore glasses.

Sometimes our minds do that. It kind of ‘chews on something’. We wonder. I guess that I had one of those moments recently when I caught myself thinking about how many times in the last few months, I have said the word, ‘Amen’. One day, I know that it was at least 200 times – no kidding.

What does that mean really? Amen.

I checked the internet for a definition. The basic meaning of amen is firm, fixed or sure. Also, it can be used to convey ‘So be it’. In the old English Bible, it is used to say ‘verily’ or ‘truly’.

The affirmation of amen comes at the closing – at the end.

As 2023 comes to a close in this final hour, it is now neatly filed away under ‘my past’. 2023 was a good year. Clearly the year built to a crescendo that is Nauvoo. Life here is simple, uncluttered and peaceful. There is sacrifice being away from those we love the most, but this experience is very much a spiritual sabbatical. Our circumstances are minimalistic and defined – except for the constant learning and touching moments that come regularly and without notice. Most of the experience still lies before us and as we start 2024, we bid a very fond farewell to 2023.

Amen.