I've been thinking a lot lately about answered prayers. Sometimes I lose track of how that works. I get on my knees and tell God what I would like and sometimes get pretty specific as to how and what He should grant me. Like I have even the slightest idea what is best for me.
If I boil my prayers down to the lowest common denominator, they all center on the acquisition of happiness. Too often though, I have a preconceived notion as to what it is that will bring happiness about. This past year has taught me that my preconceived notions are mostly ill conceived notions and that while the answers I got were not the ones I wanted, they most certainly were the ones that would produce the most happiness. What God sees as fit for me and my happiness are seldom the same things I have envisioned.
Reading through my journal from early last Summer I encountered an entry in which I mentioned having prayed earnestly for the opportunity to be of service to the Lord. Shortly thereafter, I lost my job. I didn't see the connection then, but looking back I see that my prayer was answered and I was afforded abundant time with which to render the service I sought to offer. I have relished that time and the resulting opportunities to express my gratitude in the care and (hopefully) blessing of others. Later, when I wasn't even looking, God provided a way for me to supplement my income such that we have since had sufficient for our needs. This blessed means was also an opportunity to render service and was on which left my opportunities to serve enhanced, rather than hindered.
Would I like to be more financially free? Of course. Would that make me happier than the blessings I did get? I doubt it.
We talked of service in our Priesthood Quorum on Sunday. It was such a blessing to rub shoulders with such wonderful servants of the Lord. Each has found joy in serving those around them and by extension in serving God. I led the discussion but their testimonies and examples made the lesson. At the end I felt to bear my testimony. I told them that I wasn't too sure I was all that good a servant or that I really knew all that much about service. The one thing I could tell them that I was certain of is this: When I am on the Lord's errand, I know, without doubt, that I will be given the resources necessary to accomplish the task. Be those resources spiritual or physical, they will be given abundantly as necessary. It was then that I realized that I have no such confidence when I comes to the pursuit of my own agenda.
Doesn't it follow then, that if I am constantly about the Lord's business instead of my own, I will always have sufficient for my needs? Of course it does. That settled it for me. From now on I'm going to quit worrying about my own needs and focus on serving the Lord with full purpose of heart. I have every confidence that if I am doing so, I will be given all that I require to sustain me in that effort.
What a relief!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Touched by the Finger of the Lord
I have long felt the need to have the Lord put forth His finger and touch my efforts that they might shine. Even my very best my efforts, when left to themselves, are as inert as were the stones the Brother of Jared brought before the Lord seeking to have them give light in their vessels. Clearly, those stones did not shine until they were touched by the Lord. I have not altered that notion. I and all I do are completely useless without the attending power and grace of God.
Yesterday, as I was on an errand for the Lord, I said a prayer to that effect. "Would Thou, on account of my weakness before Thee, please put forth Thy finger and give power to my work that it might be satisfactory to Thy purposes?" The Spirit whispered an interesting response. "I already have. I have given you the Priesthood, which is my power. Exercise it righteously and you have all the power you need."
I will continue to pray for the grace and influence of God in all I do; but with the realization that such a prayer is an acknowledgement of my need for such grace, accompanied by the assurance that, if I am serving worthily, my plea has already been abundantly granted.
Yesterday, as I was on an errand for the Lord, I said a prayer to that effect. "Would Thou, on account of my weakness before Thee, please put forth Thy finger and give power to my work that it might be satisfactory to Thy purposes?" The Spirit whispered an interesting response. "I already have. I have given you the Priesthood, which is my power. Exercise it righteously and you have all the power you need."
I will continue to pray for the grace and influence of God in all I do; but with the realization that such a prayer is an acknowledgement of my need for such grace, accompanied by the assurance that, if I am serving worthily, my plea has already been abundantly granted.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Movie Review - Babe
- It's message is profound
- It's cinematography is superb
- It's story is delightful
- It's characters are wonderful and yes, believable
- It inspires and uplifts me every single time I watch it.
- It is rated G for all audiences
- This little movie is simply transcendent!
There aren't many films that I would bother watching a second time. Most movies out there are hard to justify watching once, but this one I have eagerly viewed over and over. I just enjoyed it again this morning. And, I came away more inspired by it than ever.
There is a loftiness, simplicity, courage and humility in this story's ideals that speaks volumes to me. Most of us never face heroic Everest-like conquests. Ours are more of a more ordinary, unseen nature. Ours are more like those of farmer Hoggett, masterfully played by James Cromwell. Or like those of Babe, the pig, himself. We all have conflicts like Rex, the dog, and fears and prejudices like Ma the Sheep. How good it would be if we were courageous, honest nurturers of others like that sweet, unassuming dog, Fly. Some of us wish to be what we are not like Ferdinand the Duck and confuse that with being congruent with our potential and value like Babe who, while breaking the mold, was indeed true to himself. Oh, that more of us were like Farmer Hoggett and would follow our hearts and trust our instincts.
Babe's triumph is cheered by friend and foe because he has brought them all along with him. His triumph becomes our triumph and liberates us from fear, doubt, skepticism and the pigeon holes life likes to file us in. Babe prevailed, not because he became a sheep dog, but rather, because he didn't.
Babe became a shepherd and inspired even the sheepherders to do the same. He did it with love, respect, civility and politeness. This, in a world that seems to have rejected each of those most priceless principles. In today's environment, the occasional dose of Babe brings me back to my center and those precious things that matter most to me.
Babe.
Bravo!
Five Stars!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Motivating Home Teachers
This morning Simple Truths emailed out a little video. It is called You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School. There is some good information in it, but not so much for Elders Quorum Presidents or High Priests Group Leaders. The premise of the video is that if it is your organization's mission is to climb trees; you want to hire squirrels, not draft horses. I suppose that is true if you can personally select your work force. In a High Priests Group or and Elders Quorum we don't have the option of hand picking our members.
The challenges we face in accomplishing Quorum duties such as Home Teaching lie in how we see our mission. If we are too focused on certain outcomes we will most likely continue in the mediocre status quo. If, however, we take a different view of our calling we will thank the Lord for not only the squirrels and draft horses, but also the ducks, eagles, skunks and poodles.
For the moment, and for the sake of this discussion; let's forget about numbers for a while. With that objective removed, what are we hoping to accomplish in our Quorums? I can think of a few things. I suppose you'll probably add to the list as well as you seek the Lord to guide your stewardship.
First, we are called to strengthen our brethren. When the Savior gave that admonition to Peter, (see Luke 22:32), I think He also had us in mind. Our assignment is to strengthen our brethren, not change them. We are not called to turn draft horses into squirrels or vice versa. Each Quorum member has unique gifts to bring to the whole, which will be best used if we do not try to get him to "fit the mold." The first order of business, I believe is not to get our Home Teaching done but to strengthen our brethren. If we are to rely upon them to bring again Zion we must prepare them for that responsibility. One of the key responsibilities of a Quorum Leader is to prayerfully consider the resources he has and match them with the needs that arise. Try not to favor the draft horses over the squirrels. Each has a unique and beneficial role he can play.
Second, I believe we can change the focus of the stewardship interviews we hold with those in our charge. If we remove numbers again, we will see that the focus of that interview ought to be one of what I as a leader can do to assist him in his calling. Meet with the brethren one on one. Begin with a prayer. Ask the Home Teacher to offer that prayer. As he prays you can begin to take his spiritual temperature and discern what he needs in order to become a greater servant of the Lord. If you don't get such revelation, then ask the brother himself, "What can I do to assist you in your service?" Or, "Are there obstacles to the accomplishment of your duty that I can help you surmount?" Or, (if he's just not going) "What is it that makes you resist the fulfillment of your assignment?" I guarantee you will discover things you had not known and things you can do to help him overcome even the scariest problems. Remember the focus needs to be on preparing and strengthening the Home Teacher. If he is not prepared, he is not going to adequately watch over the families he is assigned.
Third, please don't micro manage your Home Teachers. Please. Begin by giving them the latitude they need to teach by the Spirit. If we insist on drawing a detailed picture of what good Home Teaching looks like and refuse to let our Home Teachers color outside the lines I guarantee our Home Teaching will be less effective than it can be. If, for example, you have a Home Teacher to travels on business frequently and the only way he can visit his families is on Skype then by all means encourage him to do it. His family needs the time he is at home and what fun it might be to be Home Taught over the internet with Hong Kong in the back ground.
Fourth, we seldom see our Home Teaching and other Quorum assignments as team projects. A little correlation and communication could go a long way toward making that happen. If we were to take a moment in Quorum meetings to coordinate and deal with pressing problems we could cover Home Teachers in a scheduling crunch, give suggestions for sticky challenges, swap companions for a night... the possibilities are endless. No Home Teacher should feel like he's out there on his own. He should have the comfort that his Quorum is backing him up - all the way. For example, on a third Sunday, someone might say, "I've tried to get with Sister Williams all month and just discovered she's been in intensive care in Salt Lake City. Is anyone going that way who might have time to stop in to check on her? Someone might respond. Or maybe someone else knows her daughter's name and a number he could call. That phone call, or that visit by one of his Quorum mates is surely effective Home Teaching. How about this one? "Does anybody know where and when Bill hits the coffee shop on Saturday mornings? I'd like to stop in there and see if that might be a way I can spend some time with him each month." Someone might answer, "Yea, hope they have Postum on hand for you! I see him pull out at about 7:30, follow him." Someone else might say, "I think he meets Joe there, maybe I could come too!"
Fifth, take a moment at the beginning of each Quorum Meeting to invite someone to tell a Home Teaching success story. Nothing spawns imagination, courage and continued effort better than witnessing success. Ask questions like, "I saw Paul out to Sacrament Meeting this morning! What's going on?" The Home Teacher might say, "I was as surprised as you are!" Or maybe, "All I did was invite him." Or "When he and Sharron were over to dinner, my little Mary asked him if she could sit by him in Sacrament Meeting. What else could he do?" Some Home Teacher in the Quorum might be wondering about a couple he is assigned and realize that inviting the Whosits over for a barbecue, just might actually count as Home Teaching!
Sixth, there is something for everyone. All who run may win the prize. Perhaps you'll assign more families to your heavy haulers than you do to your squirrels. Maybe you'll send a draft horse with a squirrel. The horse might carry the weight, but maybe the family would rather have a nut. What if a retired gentleman is wearing out his junior companion with the eight families he's willing to teach. Maybe you could give him two companions (four families each). I have a potential Home Teacher who is homebound with poor health. Could it count as Home Teaching if he wrote personal notes on the Ward News Letter and posted them to families who won't (yet) let Home Teachers in the door? I think it would. What about Walt who won't go Home Teaching. Maybe he'll be Sam's companion at the Coffee Shop visiting Joe and Bill. I can just hear Walt say, "Now this is what I call Home Teaching!" Now Walt is helping carry the load (even if he orders coffee instead of Postum.) Guaranteed his senior companion isn't perfect either. Okay, so it's more like Coffee Shop Teaching, but which is better, the coffee shop or nothing? I do a fair amount of Home Teaching in driveways and on sidewalks this time of year.
Now a final few thoughts. One of the things I like about going to 12 Step meetings is that no one shows up and brow beats me or tells me what to do. The tradition is to simply share our own experience, strength and hope. I never feel like anyone is "Holier than Thou." We would do well to adopt that pattern in our Quorums and in the homes we visit. We would do well to take the word should out of our vocabulary. People already pretty much know what they should do and don't often need someone naggingly coming around every month to remind them. The reason we don't use should's in 12 Steps is because we believe that God will use life to prepare each person with sufficient humility to take necessary steps and that the preparation for humility is God's job, not ours. We need to accept the fact that we are not in a position to fix anyone but ourselves. It is time we quit trying. God does the fixing.
So, back to experience, strength and hope. When we share our Home Teaching success stories (in humility, I hope.) We give the audience a chance to examine their own circumstances and accept the Spirit's invitation to emulate the good and success they see in the examples given. They remain free to choose and often enough, will choose well. That is if they don't feel manipulated, guilt tripped, arm twisted, carrot and sticked, into doing something they're presently uncomfortable with. I once made this suggestion to a brother who jumped right in with the protest, "But what about D&C 20 where we are counselled not only to be with and strengthen, but to expound and to exhort? You are asking us not to exhort." I realize the dictionary defines exhort as to: urge strongly, give warnings or advice. But, it was not always so. Most New Testament instances that were translated from the Greek as exhort held a quite different meaning. In the Greek, παρακλέω meant to call near or invite to come with, accompanied by strong connotations of lending comfort and encouragement. Quite a different view of exhortation, don't you think? I believe that definition more closely parallels the counsel we are given in D&C 121, where exercise of the Priesthood is to be done by:
The challenges we face in accomplishing Quorum duties such as Home Teaching lie in how we see our mission. If we are too focused on certain outcomes we will most likely continue in the mediocre status quo. If, however, we take a different view of our calling we will thank the Lord for not only the squirrels and draft horses, but also the ducks, eagles, skunks and poodles.
For the moment, and for the sake of this discussion; let's forget about numbers for a while. With that objective removed, what are we hoping to accomplish in our Quorums? I can think of a few things. I suppose you'll probably add to the list as well as you seek the Lord to guide your stewardship.
First, we are called to strengthen our brethren. When the Savior gave that admonition to Peter, (see Luke 22:32), I think He also had us in mind. Our assignment is to strengthen our brethren, not change them. We are not called to turn draft horses into squirrels or vice versa. Each Quorum member has unique gifts to bring to the whole, which will be best used if we do not try to get him to "fit the mold." The first order of business, I believe is not to get our Home Teaching done but to strengthen our brethren. If we are to rely upon them to bring again Zion we must prepare them for that responsibility. One of the key responsibilities of a Quorum Leader is to prayerfully consider the resources he has and match them with the needs that arise. Try not to favor the draft horses over the squirrels. Each has a unique and beneficial role he can play.
Second, I believe we can change the focus of the stewardship interviews we hold with those in our charge. If we remove numbers again, we will see that the focus of that interview ought to be one of what I as a leader can do to assist him in his calling. Meet with the brethren one on one. Begin with a prayer. Ask the Home Teacher to offer that prayer. As he prays you can begin to take his spiritual temperature and discern what he needs in order to become a greater servant of the Lord. If you don't get such revelation, then ask the brother himself, "What can I do to assist you in your service?" Or, "Are there obstacles to the accomplishment of your duty that I can help you surmount?" Or, (if he's just not going) "What is it that makes you resist the fulfillment of your assignment?" I guarantee you will discover things you had not known and things you can do to help him overcome even the scariest problems. Remember the focus needs to be on preparing and strengthening the Home Teacher. If he is not prepared, he is not going to adequately watch over the families he is assigned.
Third, please don't micro manage your Home Teachers. Please. Begin by giving them the latitude they need to teach by the Spirit. If we insist on drawing a detailed picture of what good Home Teaching looks like and refuse to let our Home Teachers color outside the lines I guarantee our Home Teaching will be less effective than it can be. If, for example, you have a Home Teacher to travels on business frequently and the only way he can visit his families is on Skype then by all means encourage him to do it. His family needs the time he is at home and what fun it might be to be Home Taught over the internet with Hong Kong in the back ground.
Fourth, we seldom see our Home Teaching and other Quorum assignments as team projects. A little correlation and communication could go a long way toward making that happen. If we were to take a moment in Quorum meetings to coordinate and deal with pressing problems we could cover Home Teachers in a scheduling crunch, give suggestions for sticky challenges, swap companions for a night... the possibilities are endless. No Home Teacher should feel like he's out there on his own. He should have the comfort that his Quorum is backing him up - all the way. For example, on a third Sunday, someone might say, "I've tried to get with Sister Williams all month and just discovered she's been in intensive care in Salt Lake City. Is anyone going that way who might have time to stop in to check on her? Someone might respond. Or maybe someone else knows her daughter's name and a number he could call. That phone call, or that visit by one of his Quorum mates is surely effective Home Teaching. How about this one? "Does anybody know where and when Bill hits the coffee shop on Saturday mornings? I'd like to stop in there and see if that might be a way I can spend some time with him each month." Someone might answer, "Yea, hope they have Postum on hand for you! I see him pull out at about 7:30, follow him." Someone else might say, "I think he meets Joe there, maybe I could come too!"
Fifth, take a moment at the beginning of each Quorum Meeting to invite someone to tell a Home Teaching success story. Nothing spawns imagination, courage and continued effort better than witnessing success. Ask questions like, "I saw Paul out to Sacrament Meeting this morning! What's going on?" The Home Teacher might say, "I was as surprised as you are!" Or maybe, "All I did was invite him." Or "When he and Sharron were over to dinner, my little Mary asked him if she could sit by him in Sacrament Meeting. What else could he do?" Some Home Teacher in the Quorum might be wondering about a couple he is assigned and realize that inviting the Whosits over for a barbecue, just might actually count as Home Teaching!
Sixth, there is something for everyone. All who run may win the prize. Perhaps you'll assign more families to your heavy haulers than you do to your squirrels. Maybe you'll send a draft horse with a squirrel. The horse might carry the weight, but maybe the family would rather have a nut. What if a retired gentleman is wearing out his junior companion with the eight families he's willing to teach. Maybe you could give him two companions (four families each). I have a potential Home Teacher who is homebound with poor health. Could it count as Home Teaching if he wrote personal notes on the Ward News Letter and posted them to families who won't (yet) let Home Teachers in the door? I think it would. What about Walt who won't go Home Teaching. Maybe he'll be Sam's companion at the Coffee Shop visiting Joe and Bill. I can just hear Walt say, "Now this is what I call Home Teaching!" Now Walt is helping carry the load (even if he orders coffee instead of Postum.) Guaranteed his senior companion isn't perfect either. Okay, so it's more like Coffee Shop Teaching, but which is better, the coffee shop or nothing? I do a fair amount of Home Teaching in driveways and on sidewalks this time of year.
Now a final few thoughts. One of the things I like about going to 12 Step meetings is that no one shows up and brow beats me or tells me what to do. The tradition is to simply share our own experience, strength and hope. I never feel like anyone is "Holier than Thou." We would do well to adopt that pattern in our Quorums and in the homes we visit. We would do well to take the word should out of our vocabulary. People already pretty much know what they should do and don't often need someone naggingly coming around every month to remind them. The reason we don't use should's in 12 Steps is because we believe that God will use life to prepare each person with sufficient humility to take necessary steps and that the preparation for humility is God's job, not ours. We need to accept the fact that we are not in a position to fix anyone but ourselves. It is time we quit trying. God does the fixing.
So, back to experience, strength and hope. When we share our Home Teaching success stories (in humility, I hope.) We give the audience a chance to examine their own circumstances and accept the Spirit's invitation to emulate the good and success they see in the examples given. They remain free to choose and often enough, will choose well. That is if they don't feel manipulated, guilt tripped, arm twisted, carrot and sticked, into doing something they're presently uncomfortable with. I once made this suggestion to a brother who jumped right in with the protest, "But what about D&C 20 where we are counselled not only to be with and strengthen, but to expound and to exhort? You are asking us not to exhort." I realize the dictionary defines exhort as to: urge strongly, give warnings or advice. But, it was not always so. Most New Testament instances that were translated from the Greek as exhort held a quite different meaning. In the Greek, παρακλέω meant to call near or invite to come with, accompanied by strong connotations of lending comfort and encouragement. Quite a different view of exhortation, don't you think? I believe that definition more closely parallels the counsel we are given in D&C 121, where exercise of the Priesthood is to be done by:
persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—If we are about enlarging souls we will be successful. We can now put numbers back into the equation. Numbers will naturally follow strong and strengthened Quorum members. That's where numbers should be, behind people, not before them. Putting numbers first is Spiritual Dyslexia. It is putting the cart before the horse (or squirrel.)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Guilty of Prostitution
pros·ti·tute
a person who willingly uses his or her talent or ability in a base and unworthy way, usually for money.Okay, I've skirted around this issue long enough. I felt so excited to have the time and focus to write full time when I began this project last Summer. Then as finances grew tighter and revenue streams dried up I became more and more distracted by money and my writing began to suffer. I felt a distinct loss of imagination, creativity, motivation and my writing practically stopped. In the mean time my attention turned to other important and very gratifying activities of service and companionship.
The ever pressing need for money drove me back to the keyboard time and time again, but there was little that came to my mind or fingertips.
I began seriously writing in my recovery program from addiction. I was astonished at what I could discover by asking questions and seeking answers on the written page. More and more I wrote. More and more I felt knowledge and understanding streaming into my conscious awareness. Some say we all have it in us we just have to dig it out. Writing is the spade. While there is truth to that, to be sure. I feel certain that there is also a large measure of actual revelation involved in the process.
I write to discover and refine my understanding of myself, of life, of God and of my circumstances. When I began to think of writing as a career that all changed. Unavoidably, I began to write for money. In doing so the color, texture, taste, smell and joy of discovery largely disappeared. "You cannot serve God and Mammon," Jesus declared. I am finally willing to admit that He was right.
I need to parenthetically mention that I am more than grateful that others have written books and shared their wisdom, knowledge, imagination and insight with me. I do not condemn them in any way. Where would I be without them and their wonderful inspiration? I do not begrudge them the blessing of revenue from their efforts. All I am saying here is that I am unable to do that. I have tried. I have tried and tried to keep my focus on the subjects at hand, but always, in the back of my mind, was the nagging question of whether or not my writing would sell. That niggling undercurrent has ruined the process for me and as of today will stop.
I am taking the tip jar off my blog. Also all advertising. I am no longer going to pursue publication of any of my work. I will put it all online, complete or not for you to use or reject as suits you. I no longer intend to profit from the gifts God has so generously granted me. Every time I write something that lifts, inspires and changes me, I am already recipient of such good, kind grace from God that it seems a violation to seek monetary gain from it as well.
I have always been uncomfortable with what I call "Marketing Mormonism." I remain so. As I said before, it puts me between a rock and a hard place because I don't know what I'd do if I no could no longer visit Deseret Book. I love perusing the shelves and shelves of creative thought and inspiration. Coming to the conclusion that such a course is not for me has been a difficult struggle. In the end I had to concede that I am just not cut out for self promotion, or from profiting from God's liberal gifts.
I have come to realize that were I to be a successful writer, especially in the genre that most of my writing fits, I would be especially vulnerable to entering into priestcraft.
Alma 1:16
Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor.I suspect that one does not necessarily have to preach false doctrine in order to practice priestcraft. Even true doctrine taught for the sake of vanity, wealth and honor, to my mind, is suspect when it comes to priestcraft. I hope with all my heart that I have never preached false doctrine. Would that more readers would comment; most especially to challenge notions I have that may not bear up under the scrutiny of the truth. Yet I can imagine how easy it would be, for the sake of wealth and influence, to doctor up the truth to make it more marketable. Heaven forbid.
This morning, I haven't a clue as to what my financial future might hold. Nor can I conceive of how I can possibly make ends meet. But I finally realize that is a separate issue and so I want to make it plain that I will no longer prostitute my talent (such as it is) for fame or money.
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