P A T I E N C E!

Life is a funny thing.  Anyone familiar with the concept of "time" knows that it is a fickle monster.  Sometimes, it can seem to drag on mercilessly, testing your patience and resolve.  Other times, it can seem to fly by in a blink, going from then to now like a flash of lightning, and turning now to then, just as quickly.  As missionaries, we gain an intimate relationship with the quirks of time over the course of a short 18 to 24 months. 

 Life is like that too.  As we reflect on memories past, often it is startling to realize how much time has truly passed since yesteryear!  As we look with hopes and dreams to the future, it seems to always stay just out of reach, dangling in front of us, teasing us, like a carrot on a string.  And, as always, between our memories of the past and our hopes of the future, lies the present.

 The fact of the matter is, all we have is now.  We must learn from experiences of time past, and press forward patiently towards our dreams of the future.

 But (if you are like me,) waiting can be hard!  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave an awesome story on this subject.

 Now, this is cute and awesome and everything, but it distressed me a little.  We all have to ask ourselves: Which child was I?  Honestly, I'm not sure if I would have refrained from eating the marshmallow.  To quote one of my favorite songs, "the waiting is the hardest part."

  But we all learn at an early age (from a very determined tortoise and a rather impatient hare) that steadily enduring day to day is key to having a happy life.  Patience isn't only a virtue, it is requisite to reach the finish line, and win the prize of eternal life.  Those who live "fast" lives may be shocked to find at the end, just like the hare, that they have still lost the race.

 In the end, it is what we do that counts, not how fast we do it. Elder Quentin L. Cook quoted this poem on the subject:

O, one might reach heroic heights
By one strong burst of power.
He might endure the whitest lights
Of heaven for an hour;--
But harder is the daily drag,
To smile at trials which fret and fag,
And not to murmur--nor to lag.
The test of greatness is the way
One meets the eternal Everyday.
~Edmund Vance Cooke

 So hang in there!  It is by sticking to it in through those long, tough days that we prove ourselves worthy of the Kingdom. Greatness comes one day, one trial, one step at a time. Patience is hard.  Patience is long.  Patience is tough.
 But Patience is Power.

Zombies!!!

 Imagine you are walking down a dark alley on a blustery autumn evening.  The leaves crackle beneath your feet, as a rusty gate swings on its hinges as you pass it.  A crow erupts loudly, suddenly, overhead, and you nearly jump out of your skin.  A cloud passes over the moon, and what little light guided your steps disappears, leaving you walking aimlessly forward in the bitter chill of the night. 
 You walk faster, tightening your coat around you.
 Suddenly, the moon peers through a break in the roiling clouds, and illuminates the path ahead.  You see a figure, shuffling slowly, towards you.  Arms outstretched, it moans as it drags one of it's feet.  At first, you wonder if this person needs help.  As he, or it, passes beneath a streetlight, now closer, you gasp in horror at what you see.

 We've all heard of zombies.  There are books about them, movies about them, games about them, heck, even songs about them!  There are literally people who have a Zombie Apocalypse Plan, ready to implement at the first sign of a viral outbreak.  I know, because I am one of them.

 However, before we get caught up in preparing for a worldwide plague of the undead, we should stop and take a closer look at ourselves.  I think we'll find that there are already zombies among us, and we, in fact, may even be counted among them.

 It's so easy to get in "zombie mode" sometimes.  I think high school is an excellent example of this. 
Raise from the bed. Eat. Trudge off to school. Eat. Shuffle to work. Eat. Groan while you do Homework. Sleep. 
  Of course, that would be a model teenage zombie.  If they were anything like me, it might look more like Eat. Sleep. School. Eat. Video Games. Eat. Sleep.
 Regardless of what kind of life you lead, we tend to build routines.  Aristotle stated that "we humans are creatures of habit".  We set up a system that requires the least effort, and once you are comfortable, you can function with minimal brain activity.  Before you know it, it's five o' clock and you can't remember what you ate for lunch.  You are a zombie!

 To once again quote President Dieter F. Uchtdorf,

 "My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to... focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich and fruitful mortal life with promises of eternal happiness." Every moment of life is an indescribable blessing!  We just can't afford to waste minutes, days, months, even years of our lives, whiling away the time just "going through the motions"! Remember, "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." Snap out of the routine, go for a walk in the park, take in a deep breath of fresh air and appreciate the blessing that it is to be alive!
 If not, well, then you're just another zombie.

Nerd's Eye View: Episode IV

Goin' Solo

Pride.  In one way or another, everyone has struggled with it.  In the words of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Every mortal has at least a casual if not intimate relationship with the sin of pride. No one has avoided it; few overcome it... When our hearts are filled with pride, we commit a grave sin, for we violate the two great commandments. Instead of worshipping God and loving our neighbor, we reveal the real object of our worship and love—the image we see in the mirror."

 Now, of all the characters in Star Wars, one of my favorites is Han Solo.  When we first meet him in a grungy cantina on Tatooine, we find that he's quick to boast and quicker to draw his blaster.  He pilots the Millenium Falcon, a ship that "made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs," which is quite a feat.  He's skilled, for sure, and he knows it.
 No doubt Han had relied on himself his whole life, save his trusty companion Chewbacca.  He remarks to Luke and Obi Wan, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side."  There are many, like Han, who share that sentiment.  "Who needs religion and old books in these days?  Just live every day to the fullest!"  We all have skills, talents, and abilities.  We all have survived our own personal trials, failures, and bounty hunters, and still came out on top!  We don't need anyone but ourselves to find happiness and success in life.
 Sounds pretty good, right?
 If you've ever felt that way, you were going through life Solo.

 On the other hand, we see Luke.  Young, inexperienced, though modestly talented at being a pilot back home, his pure heart and humility instantly wins us over.  Although he can be a bit headstrong and whiney, he steadily learns to rely on more than just himself, but to trust more in the force.

 Through their adventures together, these two men learn from each other and foster a friendship.  Through Luke's humble example, we see a change come over the heart of Han Solo. 
 As Luke prepares to leave with the rebels in a desperate run to destroy the Death Star, Han prepares to leave with his reward money.  Luke remarks angrily as he is leaving,  "Take care of yourself Han. I guess that's what you're best at isn't it?" As Luke storms off, Han replies, "Hey, Luke. May the Force be with you."

 Han later saves Luke's life, and assists him in destroying the Death Star.  Han learns the necessity of helping others, and of being helped by others.

 May we all learn to rely on the Spirit. May we think a little less about ourselves, and do a little bit more for others. To quote President Uchtdorf one more time,

 "Humility directs our attention and love toward others and to Heavenly Father’s purposes. Pride does the opposite... there are so many people in need whom we could be thinking about instead of ourselves. And please don’t ever forget your own family, your own wife. There are so many ways we could be serving. We have no time to become absorbed in ourselves."

 The Lord is eager to help us and guide us, and there are many who can help, and be helped, by us.  There is no need to go through life solo!

May the Spirit be with you!