First World Problems - Guest Post

Lately I've been listening a lot to the radio show The Nightside
Project. One of their regular features involves listeners texting in
their first world problems - stuff like "There isn't room in my garage
for both my boat and my RV", "I hate it when my monster truck gets a
spot of mud on it", "The remote control is sitting on top of the TV",
or "There was too much sauce on my hamburger and it spilled out onto
my shirt". The fun of First World Problems is that we realize that
these things we complain about are testaments in themselves about how
lucky we have it. Just the opportunity to suffer such annoyances is a
blessing.

Because we are aware that we're lucky to have the things and
opportunities we do, sometimes people end complaints about their
trials with something along the lines of, "I know I am so blessed and
there are so many people out there who have it much worse off then
me." Like because other people are suffering with things they haven't
experienced, their own sufferings are not worth mentioning. Other
times people from the outside compare two different people with a
similar trial, but one person seems to have it to a greater extent.

In the October 1980 General Conference, Boyd K. Packer said, "Some are
tested by poor health, some by a body that is deformed or homely.
Others are tested by handsome and healthy bodies; some by the passion
of youth; others by the erosions of old age. Some suffer
disappointment in marriage, family problems; others live in poverty
and obscurity. Some (perhaps this is the hardest test) find ease and
luxury. All are part of the test. And there is more equality in this
testing than sometimes we suspect."

And seriously? Even what seem like the simplest comparisons can get
pretty complicated. Just think of the smallest trial you can. Now
imagine that comes right after a month of one thing after another. Is
it easier to get through because you've grown through your other
experiences or is it the straw that breaks your camel's back? And
imagine two women with developmentally disabled children. Maybe one is
six months behind her peers in two areas and the other is two years
behind in a wide range of areas. But if the second woman has a strong
support system of friends and extended family and the first has
recently moved and her husband refuses to believe there is a problem,
who has it harder? And whose insurance provides better coverage for
therapists?

There is no point in comparing trials because, for one thing, we
can't. We don't know enough.We are all unique and even if we were
somehow to have the same exact trials, those trials would affect us
each differently. But we can be confident that Heavenly Father is
going to give us the trials we need to grow and he is going to make
available the help we need to get through them. And in the end, it
will all even out.

This post was written by the lovely Marissa, who I've known for a few years now and kindly consented to  be a guest blogger. Isn't she fabulous?

Steve's Doughnuts

I don't remember exactly how I found this story, I don't know who wrote it, or anything except what I have posted here. Even still, I would ask you to consider it. It is similar to this post, I feel it helps in a small way to understand another aspect of the Atonement. It may seem a little cheesy, but sometimes it is the cheesy stories that are the easiest to understand.

Steve opens the door into Brother Christensen's seminary class. He was always the last one to enter, and the first one to leave. One day, Brother Christensen asked Steve to stay after class.

"You think you're pretty tough, don't you Steve?" Brother Christensen asked. 
"Yes" replied Steve. 
"About how many push-ups can you do?"
"I do 200 push-ups every night."
"200, that is pretty good. Do you think you could do 300?" 
"I don't know, I've never done 300 at one time."
"Do you think you could?"
"Well, I can try."
"Can you do 300, in sets of 10?  I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it."
"Well, I think I can...ya...I can do it."
"Good. I need you to do this on Friday."

Friday came, and Steve was standing at the front of the room before class. On the table was a box of the biggest, expensive, delicious donuts. 

Brother Christensen turned to the first person on the first row, "Cynthia, do you want a doughnut?" "Yes" "Steve, would you do ten push ups so that Cynthia can have a  doughnut ?" "Sure!" Steve quickly did the ten push ups and Cynthia got the  doughnut . Brother Christensen headed down each row, repeating this process. He soon came to Scott, who asked to do his own push ups. Brother Christensen replied that Steve had to do the push ups. "Then I don't want one." Brother Christensen turned to Steve and asked "Steve will do you do 10 push ups so that Scott can have a  doughnut he doesn't want?" Steve started doing the push ups, Scott got really mad, and soon he had a  doughnut on his desk. Brother Christensen replied, "This is my class, just leave it on your desk if you don't want it." 

Steve started to slow down, a little perspiration, the class started getting angrier by the third row. Most people were refusing the  doughnut now. They turned away and wouldn't watch Steve do the push ups, yet each got a  doughnut .

During class, additional students walked in. They sat on the side of the room, and some of the students realized this, and making quick count, 34 students, the students started to worry. He went on, near the end of the third row, Steve had a hard time, he asked Brother Christensen, "Does my nose have to touch the ground each time?" "They are your push ups, do them how you would like." 

A few minutes later, Jason was about to come in. The class yelled and begged him not to come in. Steve replied, "No, let him come." Brother Christensen turned to him, "Do you realize what this means?" Steve replied, "Yes, let him come."

Ten very slow push ups later, a bewildered Jason was handed a doughnut . Brother Christensen finished the fourth row and started on those seated around the room. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push up in the struggle to lift himself against gravity. There was not a dry eye in the room. 

The last two girls were both cheerleaders, Linda, the second to last, was asked if she wanted a doughnut . "No, thank you" she replied. Brother Christensen turned to Steve, "Would you do ten push ups so Linda can have the doughnut  she doesn't want?" Ten push ups were done. Finally, he turned to Susan. "Susan, would you like a doughnut?" With tears flowing, Susan asked "Can I help him?" "No. He has to do this alone." "Then, I do not want one." "Steve, would you do ten push ups so Susan can have the  doughnut she doesn't want?" 

Slowly, he finished. He had accomplished all that was required, having done 350 push ups, his arms buckled, he fell to the floor.

"And so it was, that our Savior plead to the Father, 'Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.' After all that was required, He collapsed and died. And, like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."  

Steve smiled on the ground where he lay in is own sweat and began to cry.

Remember the Savior, remember to apply His gift into your life, your heart, and your actions. I know it is not a perfect metaphor, but choose to learn from it anyway, turn to your Savior today.

At Church Today

I just started a new blog, which is going to be my journal for promptings and other thoughts that I had while in my church. This is to avoid just sitting in church, and not just going through the motions. I once heard a quote that says: 

"Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car."

Learning and growth is an active process. I desperately need to heed my own advice from this blog, to truly act and remember and look at myself, see how I'm doing. I don't want to just ask the questions to others. I struggle so often, and I need to critically look and see how I'm doing, and choose something each day to work on.

So, I have posted some of my older notes from church, and will continue to do so each week, so that I am actively listening and accountable to pay attention and learn continually.