Never Too Late for a Trade-In

Have you ever had car trouble?

Chances are, you have.

I have certainly done my share of walking down the sides of narrow roads and interstate emergency lanes, glancing back occasionally to see how far I have traveled from the hazard flashers blinking in the distance.

Not the best way to end a long day.

A few days ago, I was sitting at a stoplight and, for some reason, the thought occurred to me that we humans have an awful lot in common with the vehicles we drive. We spend so much of our time trying to keep ourselves in good repair. Yet, despite our best efforts to maintain a well-oiled machine, we too often find ourselves stranded inside a dingy auto-shop undergoing expensive repairs.

Sometimes, these occasional restorations to our inner make-up are in order.

Other times, we have to face the fact that we might be riding around in a kind of mental and spiritual lemon that will sap all of our strength and resources to fix. Lucky for us there is a dealer in town who will take free trade-ins on the spiritual lemons and money- pits that plague our happiness.

No kidding.

Just bring the vehicle in question (no matter what shape it is in) to the dealership parking lot and park it next to the other broken-down mental and spiritual wrecks sitting there in the junkyard.

Step out of the vehicle.

Give the keys to the friendly looking guy who comes out to greet you, and ride away smiling in a brand new car that runs like a top.

Sound too good to be true?

Well.....there is one catch.

This particular dealership has one stipulation that must be followed or the trade is void. When you drive away in your new vehicle, you must leave behind all of the baggage you have stowed away inside of the old car.

Baggage that should to be easy to walk away from... but isn’t.

The hidden suitcase in the trunk that is full of the anger you feel toward your boss.

That cleverly disguised box of self indulgence you have shoved under the front seat - the one you have been opening every once in awhile when you think no one is watching.

That bad habit you just can’t seem to give up.

The can of self pity.

The grudge you’ve been carrying around for the past twenty years.

Yes....all of that spiritual rubbish has to stay with the car or the deal is off.

Chances are, though, you’ll forget about your losses pretty quick when you notice that you don’t have to wonder whether you’ll get to your destinations without roadside assistance anymore. You’ll be thrilled when you can stop figuring costly auto repairs into your monthly budget. And no more praying that the car will start when you turn the ignition.

The upkeep on the new car is easy. Just keep up with the maintenance card, change the oil, and bring it in for a tune up every once in awhile.

And leave that treasure trove of old habits back with the wreck you traded in.

Sounds pretty simple, right?

When speaking of the kingdom of heaven, Jesus said:

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."

And then, to make sure His followers understood, he related a similar parable:

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls:
who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

Not a bad trade-in if you think about it.

Our all in exchange for Christ’s all.

Earth for heaven.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

But are we willing to make the trade?

Sometimes, I fear we are more prone to go for the quick steal on a snazzy looking sports car that will speed us toward temporary fulfillment than for the plain-looking family car that will actually get us where we want to go. Contrary to what is paraded before us on our TV screens, it’s still true that slow and steady wins the race. Yet despite the seeming simplicity of it all, it’s easy to be deceived about where happiness lies in today’s world of mass- marketing and multi-media. It’s easy to find ourselves riding around in a spiritual lemon even after the closest scrutiny of the available options.

Fortunately for us, there’s that almost-too-good-to-be-true dealership that’s set up just at the edge of town.

And He’s still taking trade ins.

Always has...always will.

Sometimes it can be hard getting our ragged-out, broken-down lemons to the junk yard to make the trade.

We might even have to get out and walk the last leg of the journey, checking back in the distance to see how far we have come from the flashing hazard lights. Repentance can be a long road to follow.

In the distance, the sign that is and ever will be visible as a light to those stranded and in need of a ride reads:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"

To the tired traveler who is weary of detours and breakdowns, there can be no sweeter words to ponder.

So, if your car has been acting up and all of the self-help mechanics have failed you, do yourself a favor: throw in the towel and take your spiritual lemon out to the edge of town. It’s never as far away as it seems to be...even if your walking away from the mangles remains of what seems to be a total-loss.Those hazard lights can look awful lonely as you look back to the scene of the accident and keep trudging along (Believe me, I know all about that!).

Don’t despair.

In the distance, there is a set of headlights headed down the deserted road toward you. As they near your position on the road, they slow to a crawl. The loud but pleasant clanking of a diesel engine drowns out the crickets in the night air, and you notice that you are staring into the side-window of an old tow-truck.

"Need a lift?" calls a voice from the driver’s seat.

You hesitate for a moment, but there is something about the voice that seems compelling.

Something familiar.

"You betcha!" you hear yourself saying, swinging open the door.

As the driver hitches up your car and heads back out toward the edge of town, you smile at the golden emblem on the passenger-side door.

"Treasure in a Field Towing," it says. "Great Price."

The lights fade in the distance, and the heavens are silent as the crickets resume their chirping. In a celestial realm somewhere out there in the cosmos, a heavenly being clothed in brilliant light smiles at the scene. The tow truck makes it’s way slowly toward the edge of town, and turns into a small dealership that has a great deal on new cars.

Looks like it’s never too late for a trade-in.

The Breath of Life

Recently, when I was on a flight to New York City, an unexpected experience helped me understand a little better about how we might be more effective in our efforts to bless the lives of those around us.

The insight came when the airline stewardess was explaining the nature of the emergency air bag that would drop down if the aircraft became unstable and started to depressurize. While listening to her instructions, I looked down at the written list of safety procedures, and started when my gaze fell on one particular diagram.

In this picture and the subsequent written explanation, adult airline passengers were instructed that in the event of an aircraft emergency, they were to first make sure that their own air masks were securely in place. Then, only after doing this, they could proceed to concern themselves with strapping on the air masks of their children.

Though the apparent wisdom in the instructions was evident, the whole process seemed to fly in the face of everything I understood about what it means to be a good parent.

In the event of such an urgent emergency, wouldn’t it be unforgivably selfish to spend valuable time putting on your own air mask before worrying about that of your children?

It would certainly seem so.

When you think about the how the laws of nature really work, though, the answer may be ....well....maybe it’s not so selfish.

You see, if the adult were to lose consciousness as a result of air loss, he or she would be totally useless to anyone else (including their children) while lying in a heap on the floor of the careening aircraft.

No one would be there to help the children, and it’s doubtful they would be able to figure out how to help themselves.

But if they were able to get your mask quickly on their face, thus taking care of their own need for oxygen, they would be much better equipped and empowered to help their own children to safety.

In the book of Enos, (found near the beginning of the Book of Mormon), this principle is illustrated wonderfully: 　

"Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man -- for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord -- and blessed be the name of my God for it --
And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.
Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.
And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.
And I said: Lord, how is it done?
And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole."

Enos, through faith in Jesus Christ, received peace to his soul and a remission of sins because of his faith and diligence in seeking Jesus Christ. Many of us might think the story ends here, but there is more:

 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them.

And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind again, saying: I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments. I have given unto them this land, and it is a holy land; and I curse it not save it be for the cause of iniquity; wherefore, I will visit thy brethren according as I have said; and their transgressions will I bring down with sorrow upon their own heads.And after I, Enos, had heard these words, my faith began to be unshaken in the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites."

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were Enos’ kindred.

The Lamanites were at enmity with Enos and his Nephite brothers.

Enos first applied all of his energy to getting his life on course, and then, after having his own spiritual oxygen replenished, he was able to divert his full, undistracted attention towards heartfelt prayer for both his friends and his enemies.

Here in this book, I believe an eternal pattern is established:

1. Life brings challenges to all of us
2. We feel a need for spiritual help in our lives to help us meet these challenges
3. We approach God in fervent and heartfelt prayer
4. God sends us spiritual oxygen to meet our needs
5. We are then in a position to do as the Savior would have us do - lose ourselves in the service of providing spiritual oxygen for others

It has been my experience that this spiritual rejuvenation is not a one time event for any of us.

Rather, it is a daily, even hourly process of keeping a prayer in our hearts so that we are strengthened and healed according to our needs.

So, if you are finding yourself more and more tired, frazzled, and worn out by the vicissitudes of life, don’t despair.

There are oxygen masks available at all hours of the day and night, no matter what aircraft you are traveling on.

You will probably find yours most easily if you take respite in a quiet room in the back of the house and calm your mind long enough to say a quick prayer.

Your husband can survive without dinner for a few minutes.

Your wife can hold onto that list of chores for another couple of moments.

The kids will be ok for a few seconds.

How much damage could they actually do in that time frame? (Don’t answer that.)

When you reemerge, you will be much more able to help those in your care than you were a few moments ago when you were struggling for spiritual air.

Jesus has admonished: "Ask, and you shall receive. Knock, and it shall be opened,"

Prayer will do wonders for the oxygen deprived soul.

A half-hour immersed in a favorite hymn or verse first thing in the morning can be all of the spiritual oxygen you will need to stand up to the challenges of the day.

"I will not leave you comfortless," said Jesus to His disciples. "I will come to you."

Over the course of my life, I have really come to believe that.

I can’t count how many times the Spirit has come to my rescue in overcoming temptations, finding the courage to stand for what is right, or helping me control my temper in a heated moment.

His influence to us in this day and age is just as it was to Adam and Eve thousands of years ago in the Garden of Eden:

The breath of life.

I’m not sure about you, but I don't need to be traveling at 30,000 feet to appreciate the how much better my day goes with a breath of fresh air.

Choose the Right

Last week, after getting off from my first job, I spent a couple of hours  doing a pest service on a self-storage unit here in Williamsburg.While I was wandering through the rows of indoor units (sprayer in hand),  I reflected on how difficult it can sometimes be to remember which areas have been serviced and which ones still need to be treated….especially if you are in a really big building.

Maybe it’s my old age catching up with me, but my memory just isn’t what it used to be. The bigger the building, the harder it seems to be to remember where you are …and where you have been.

 I have definitely serviced a few large buildings in my time.

  I can remember attempting to tackle a Goliath meat-packing plant on my first day as a pest control technician back in 1996.It didn’t work out so well – I wandered around lost inside for hours. After what seemed like forever, I found my way out of the maze of locker rooms, hallways and production rooms and breathed a sigh of relief as I felt the cool air outside. Looking at the lay of the building from the outside and reworking my bearings, I was shocked at how far I was from where I thought I would be.

 I was way off course!

 Back then, I didn’t know the secret to remembering which way to turn next when navigating a big building without a map to point the way out.Somewhere along the way, I realized that no matter what building you are in, regardless of the size or the complexity of the layout, you can find your way out (as well as remember what you have treated and what you haven’t) if you start making right-hand turns the minute you enter the building. Then, if you keep the wall to your right at all times, you will be able to successfully navigate the building.

Sounds pretty simple, huh?

Just walk in, make a right-hand turn, make sure the wall stays to your right, and keep doing the same until you get out. The problem with this system is exactly what it seems like it would be – it’s too simple. Most days, there is a significant temptation to deviate.

 Most days, unfortunately, I do.

 I have found no success, however, in deviating from this system of right-hand turns. Rather, such deviations almost always mean having to redo a section or two.Or, worse yet, wandering around lost for awhile.

 As I finished up the other day with the last row of the middle units at the self-storage facility and prepared to treat the final round of perimeter doorways, I reflected on the wisdom of trying to stick with right-hand turns, and wondered if the philosophy behind it might have greater value than just navigating pest-guys through buildings.While pondering this thought, I happened to notice a couple of units in a corner to the left that hadn’t been treated yet. I thought about making a quick detour and veering off that way for a minute or two to spray them. It wouldn’t take but a second, and I’d be right back on course making right-hand turns. It would be a piece of cake to find my way back.

 Then I smiled as I remembered the words to a familiar children’s hymn.

“Choose the right, when the choice is put before you,
In the right the Holy Spirit guides;
And its light is forever shining o’er you,
When in the right your heart confides.
Choose the right, Choose the right
Let wisdom mark the way before.
In its light, choose the right
And God will bless you evermore.”

 With one last glance over my shoulder, I turned my back on the left-facing units and continued on my way down the long corridor. Soon enough, I made my way back around and was treating the units in question. This time, there were no doubts about whether or not I had treated the area before.No wandering around trying to get back on track.


 “Choose the right.”

  It’s pretty simple.

 Sounds like good advice for a pest guy.

 My memory isn’t what it used to be, but I don’t think I”ve ever gone wrong choosing right.

Don't Forget the Butter

This morning, I woke up to the crisp fall weather and, despite the heavy cloud cover, was in good spirits as I contemplated the day ahead.

Having sat through a couple of inspiring General Conference sessions yesterday afternoon, I looked forward to hearing the messages on the final two segments in front of my Mom’s wide-screen TV.

As I meandered downstairs into the kitchen, I rubbed my eyes and tried to push the cobwebs out of my mind. My son, Matthew, was already awake and sitting in front of the TV. He usually wakes up pretty hungry, so I reached into the freezer for the frozen pancakes he eats almost every morning for breakfast. As I plopped them in the toaster, I thought of the many things that had to be done before we headed over to Mom's.

To begin with, Katherine and I had agreed to bring a southwest salad to contribute to dinner, so that would have to be put together.

We needed to straighten up the living room and make the beds.

Showers needed to be taken.

I looked at the clock.

 Distractedly, I put the pancakes on the plate.

Then I opened the fridge to find in the butter, and, glancing again at the clock, decided to skip that part and go straight for the syrup to save time.

As I did so, a quiet but distinct impression came into my mind.

"These are the moments when it really counts."

I stopped in my tracks and looked back at the butter nestled comfortably in its place on the second shelf. Even though Matthew would probably never be able to tell the difference between pancakes with butter or without, I realized that this small moment of attention to details might matter anyway.

I would know the difference.

I reached for the butter.

It only took up an extra second or two.

Next, I headed for the garlic salt.

A member of my family was cooking the soup for us to eat during the intermission between conference sessions and had asked if I would bring some garlic salt with me when I came.

In our house, we always have a large supply of garlic.

On one shelf, there was the cheap garlic that I got at the dollar store -  I used it for emergencies just like this.

On top of the stove was the good stuff....a perfect mixture of salt, garlic, and parsley that I loved using in my spaghetti sauce and garlic bread.

I reached for the cheap stuff.

Another soft impression.

"You should always give the best of yourself to others."

I almost laughed out loud as my hand stopped in mid air.

Was I going crazy?

It’s been known to happen.

Yet, I could feel a taste of that warm comforting presence I have come to know and love over the years.

I reached for the good stuff, set it next to the pile of things we would be taking with us, and went about my business.

The butter and the garlic somehow brought to mind a conversation I had been involved in a few years back.While explaining some of the principles of my faith to another person one, I was asked what it meant to be "worthy".

I had thought about the question for a moment and said,

"It means to be right with God."

At the time, I thought that I had given a complete answer. After thinking about it again this morning, though, I wondered if there was more to it than that.

To be sure, being right with God is the most important thing we can focus on.

We can never be right with God on our own, but with the help of the Savior, it’s possible.

Even likely.

But I think the other half of the equation is that we also have to make sure we are "right" with ourselves.

Looking back at the pancakes and garlic salt (maybe not such a great combination), I realized that there was a lesson to be learned in my kitchen this morning despite my busyness.

It had to do with our search for inner peace and happiness.

I think we are most peaceful and happy when we know we have done our best.

Yet, despite all of our striving and efforts to do right by others, it’s a definite fact that the outcome of our "best" is different every day.

Some days, everything goes right and our best efforts seems to shine like the sun.

On other days, our efforts seem like they have been stampeded in the mud of opposition - stained and pathetically inadequate.

Yet I am reminded that while "man looketh on the outward appearance, God looketh on the heart."

The currency in heaven seems to be a lot more centered on the desires of our hearts and our earnest efforts to make our world a brighter place than on the actual results of those intentions and efforts.

There are two people who always know if we are serving the best of ourselves to those we are called to minister to.

God.

And us.

Those are the two people who will always know the complete, unabridged truth of our lives.

As I went about the rest of my morning preparations, I wondered if I was being a little ridiculous in trying to imagine that God would care whether or not my son had butter on his pancakes this morning for breakfast.

After all, he has billions of other spirit children to tend to....many of which have worse problems than unbuttered breakfast foods.

Yet, I believe God knows that life is a "game of inches", and that every inch we move forward toward light and love matters greatly in the grand scheme of things.

"For by small and simple means are great things brought to pass."

I think that our commitment to doing our best might be the only thing that really does matter.

Then, when we have done everything we can do, we lay it all at Jesus’ feet and walk away with a smile.

Sort of reminds me of a certain Drummer Boy we sing about come Christmas-time.

He didn’t have  a wealth of gold or a caravan of fancy spices to offer to the babe lying in the manger.

He just had his drum to beat on.

So he played his best for him.

And it was enough.

How about you?

If you are just waking up and preparing to face another day, try giving yourself a shot of spiritual vitamin C  this morning by taking the extra second or two to give the best of yourself to those who need your help.

You may be a shoulder to cry on or a lifeline to someone in trouble.

You may be a helping hand to a crying child or a word of comfort for someone who is suffering.

You might be a friend to the neighbor across the street.

You may even do something as insignificant as buttering a pancake for a two-year old who probably won’t notice the difference.

Whatever it is that you do, give it your best shot.

You won’t be sorry....in fact, you might just feel a ray or two of "hope shining brightly before you" as you go about your business.

You might even feel the same smile of acceptance that a poor drummer boy felt a couple thousand years ago.

"Pa Rumpa Pum Pum," he said as he walked out into the night under the light of an unusually bright star.

That was always one of my favorite songs when I was little, but I don't think we'll hear it during conference today

If not, I’ll let it slide and be grateful for another day of inspired spiritual guidance.

When it comes time for intermission and we sit down for lunch, I’m sure I’ll end up peeking into the fridge to get some salad dressing or mayonnaise to set on the table.

When I do, I’ll probably look down to the second shelf and smile as I remember a simple but profound lesson I learned on conference Sunday:

"Don’t forget the butter."