j . a . m . k . m . b: Seems like there's something I should be doing today...

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."

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Seems like there's something I should be doing today...

I have done my civic duty and delivered my votes today at the Hillview Community Center. Truthfully, I had already filled in my votes on my vote-by-mail ballot that I didn't actually get around to mailing, so today's delivery was sort of anticlimactic. But filling them out at home gave me the chance to take a little more time and try to really think through the issues. What I realized though, is that there are many candidates and propositions that I just have no idea on. You hear advertisements and see signs up to vote for or against certain things, but in reality it's actually very difficult to understand the true long-term effects of a ballot item. So Angela and I just voted by what sounded good for our family.

I've had quite a few discussions recently about Obama v. McCain, and about Proposition 8 here in California. I've written before on the blog about my personal feelings for McCain (not real favorable), and none of his politicking has done anything to change those. However, what has become clear to me through the course of both campaigns is that I really do believe strongly in some key aspects of the Republican party. So even though Obama is personally impressive, and I think he's going to win anyway, I decided to cast my vote not necessarily in support of an individual candidate, but in line with a party that closely matches what I believe. I'm glad though that each person can vote as he or she sees fit, and I hope we all do that today.

Proposition 8 is a very polarizing issue here in California. Most of my friends and close acquaintances are in favor of the proposition, but there are many people in the area who are strongly opposed. It's been interesting to see many large Silicon Valley companies (including my own, which is no surprise) come out in support of, and donate lots of money to, the effort to defeat Prop 8. Nonetheless, I think that measure will actually pass. I've been wrong before (usually about sports outcomes), and it may get defeated, but there's been a huge grass-roots effort among many churches and conservative groups to pass 8, and I think it will pay off. We'll see...

My final political thought. There are a lot of people stressing about outcomes. Truth is, you can't control it, and it's not worth the tension. Opponents will celebrate, fingers will be pointed in triumph, and then the country will be back to trying to solve its deep problems. As for my family, we will pay attention today, and then we will get back to the business of living and trying to be righteous. Not much will change in our daily lives based on today's elections. Thank goodness.

Have a great day.

j . a . m . k . m . b

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Seems like there's something I should be doing today...

No comments:

Important Links

Blog Archive