j . a . m . k . m . b: James Blake and Mating

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.

... Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in [The Music Man], voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”

f you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”³ We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”

Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”¹⁰ May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.

Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey."

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

James Blake and Mating

I just listened to James Blake speak as a part of our guest speaker program at work. He was awesome. It wasn't so much that he was a dynamic speaker who said amazing things, it was more that he just opened up really casually and shared things about himself and about playing professional tennis. He didn't give us canned or careful answers, he just answered questions with his true thoughts. He laughed easily, he was humble and self-effacing, he is very well-spoken and educated (Harvard, after all...), and he seems to be a person content with life - not just as a pro tennis player, but almost in spite of that. I've always liked him, and now I like him even more! I immediately ordered his book on Amazon - I'll let you know what I think, but I can already tell you I'm going to love it.

A funny thing I thought I'd share that Kennan said last night. Ang took the kids with some friends out to a place where you can watch a colony of Elephant Seals, both young and old, from very close range. Kennan told me excitedly how her favorite thing about it was watching the big male elephant seal mate with the females. Hmm, I guess you could say that's nature at it's finest.

4 comments:

samandbrodi said...: I was hoping that your post would have been different about Blake...Brodi is already in love with him and this will only make it worse. It is hard for me to keep up with him. Thanks for nothing, john.; February 20, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Rosie said...: I am so jealous you got to hear him speak. He is one of our favorites and will always remember when he played Agassi last year. Let us know how the book is...Todd will love it too.; February 21, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Matt said...: Does this mean that things are on the rocks with you and Lance?; February 23, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Cammi said...: I am SO JEALOUS of your job - because of the food and the guest speaker series! I need to find a way to sneak into those meetings. I remember seeing James Blake on a news show a few years ago and I was VERY impressed. If I remember correctly, he was talking about losing his father and then going through some health problems himself. He seemed very genuine and interesting. Let me know if the book is good. I might have to read that one. Best sports biography ever - JACKIE ROBINSON. You have to read it if you haven't already. I couldn't put it down and I don't even like baseball that much!; February 29, 2008 at 12:48 AM

j . a . m . k . m . b

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

James Blake and Mating

4 comments:

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