Blog #25 Carpe diem (Seize the Day)
February 23, 2016
I’ve
often said that profound influence and life changes can come in moments. Wise counsel, tender sharing, kind deeds, and
heartfelt empathy can quickly alter lives in a positive manner. I have experienced a myriad of emotions as we
have been serving here in “the Lord’s University.” And, both Mike and I continue to be amazed at
the growth of our young men and women as they do all they can to serve the
Lord. The weekly baptisms are inspiring.
Accompanying the missionaries as they
teach an investigator is invigorating.
Watching so many servants give so much of themselves is humbling. What a blessing it is to be a part of this
great work!
It
was transfer day last week and we opened two apartments and closed one. We traveled to Lancaster to move some missionaries
in North Edwards out of one apartment and into another. Then we visited another companionship in
Lancaster who had been transferred into an apartment that had been left in less
than desirable condition. The day was
long and, after several stops, we were finally on our way home when we made a
rest stop at McDonalds. I was waiting
for our Sausage and Egg McMuffins (dinner) when a man came up to me and asked
if I was a Mormon Missionary. He was so
excited to see us. He said he’d been
praying for help all day and he knew we were the answer. He was a convert of three years. His wife and daughter were home, living in a
trailer that had electrical problems..
He was a truck driver from Arizona and had been driving all day. He was visibly agitated and asked if I could
do him a favor. He’d been looking, without success, for another place to live. He had been fearful that their home would
catch on fire . . . and driving all day gave him much time to think and
worry. He was wondering if we could pray
for him and his family that their home would not catch on fire. I’ve talked about our badges in another blog,
but I’d never felt so much weight from it until that night. Yes, we prayed for Brother Smith and his
little family. We will never know the
outcome of his life, but I will always remember the great faith he expressed
when he saw two missionaries who are striving to represent the Lord.
Lori
brought three of our granddaughters here for a weekend. What a joy!
These girls are so darling (including Lori) and we had a wonderful time. I’m so grateful we have the gift of
family. I realized how quickly time is
passing, and the children and grandchildren are changing in the blink of an
eye. I love to seize the moments I have
with them. I love the cycle of life . . . it is breathtaking.
We
see lives change before our eyes. It is
glorious as we watch someone come to Christ and submit to His will. As we witness joy and rejoicing here, we also
see much poverty and heartache. We find
ourselves wishing we could do more to help families and individuals. But, we also know to whom these folks can
turn for peace, if they will.
This
week has been difficult for me. As some
of you know, our former next-door neighbor, Melody Taylor, is in critical
condition. She had a dormant staph
infection that attacked her knees; the infection went to her heart. She’s had mini strokes because the infection
had gone to her brain. She had surgery
for a valve replacement and they were able to remove the infection, but she
still is unresponsive and very fragile.
My uncle Danny died last week, and that has been difficult for his
family and for my 94 year-old dad. Donna
Holt, a close friend for years, also died over the weekend. And, my dear friend Cindy, who is healing
from her heart challenges (last blog), was back in the hospital this week. So, not only does influence come in moments,
but, challenges (both life and death) can alter much in moments. What a blessing it is that we understand
the eternal plan. Though we know that the adversity and challenges we see are
really only a moment, when we love much, we hurt much when we see pain and
sorrow. Our challenge is to seize the
moments and express gratitude for the many blessing we enjoy.
We
had a most incredible Western States Stake Broadcast this month. Elder Dale
Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles talked
about how we explain our religion. I can
hardly wait until his talk comes out in print.
When he and his wife are asked by someone why we believe a principle or
doctrine, his wife always say, “The short
answer is that in 1820 a young man was trying to find which church is true (she
would then tell that Joseph saw God the Father and His Son, and the answer he
was given) . . . .” Then, she would say, “My husband will tell you
why we … .(Then he would answer the question in the context of modern
revelation). As we try to explain
the commandments, it must come in context of revelation. I do want study his talk. We have learned so
much here, but we mostly have learned how much we still have to learn.
I hope you know how grateful we are for
the moments we have shared with you. Our
lives have been touched by each of you, and we are so grateful for the love,
support, and influence you have on us.
We are especially grateful for this time we are serving in “the Lord’s
University” where we are learning to seize each day.
Seize the Day!
