Bless others with your service

December 21, 2014

The December Ensign (an LDS Church Magazine) has an article by a person that felt very relieved after he went to his ecclesiastical leaders and took care of some things he had done years earlier, but had kept hidden from his family, his leaders, and  the world. He kept telling himself that they would just die with him and he could take care of them on the other side, but these matters were in his mind as he pondered new activities and they kept him from moving forward with his life mission. As I thought about this person I began to think back on some of the absolutely “dumb as a rock things” I did when I was a younger. I couldn’t sleep that night wondering if I had done enough to set my record straight with God. The answer came instantaneously, and unequivocally. I was told that we are never on the plus side of things with God. Our job is to ever move forward in our lives, asking God for forgiveness of our sins and misadventures, partake of the sacrament as a token of our willingness to be clean from the sins of the world and do all we can to rid ourselves of ungodliness. Obviously, if there are things that still cause us grief we should go to our priest, bishop, or other clergy and ask for assistance and forgiveness.

Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and received all the pain of the world on his shoulders so that we could get past a very sticky point. Without the Grace of God we cannot get to that point which we all want to be in passing through the veil. Can we ever be as God has asks us to be, “spotless before the world” and free from all sin and sorrow we have heaped on ourselves and others over our live times. This was my answer. We live our lives one day at a time. We make mistakes; sometimes huge ones; sometimes small things; however, each day and sometimes every few minutes, we stop and ask ourselves what we are doing. We assess our mental state; we address the issues of the moment and put them in our book of life to be reviewed over and over again. I just received a letter from a fellow that says he has no hope and no future. He is convinced that nothing he does will help him get on the road to happiness and fulfillment. 

The answer is always in front of us. We need to reach out to others in ways we would never think of on our own. I always recommend to anyone that will listen that the answers lie in the quiet of our heart. Yes, yes, I know that some think I am preaching to them and they have sworn off God and especially anything that has to do with organized religion. So, go to whatever “quiet spot” you have and listen, think, and consider. The little secret is that the answers all come from God, but just pretend they don’t and go through the process. Ask these questions:

1.       Who can I help?

2.       What can I do to help them?

3.       Who are others not on my radar that I can help and what can I do for them?

In other words let the past go for right now. It will take care of itself. Stop obsessing on yourself and look beyond the “you” image we all seem to spawn and find the good in yourself and in others. Just think of the last thing you did for someone. The person you cheered up, gave encouragement, listened to her tales of woe, or just befriended. In my long teaching career I can scarcely remember the run of the mill individuals that seemed to have no problems. The ones that bless my mind now are the ones that needed that little something that would encourage them and help them move to the next stepping stone in their lives. Don’t be afraid to call on God. He won’t hurt you one little bit. You will be amazed at how soon you start getting little nudges that lead you to help others. Our biggest enemy is ourselves. We work really hard to think we are unworthy of any blessings and tell the world by our actions and demeanor that we are way past the notion of caring.

Especially during this Christmas season, people are wound up tight as a rope. It will take you about one second to see someone that needs your assistance.   You and God can take care of your sins and foibles later. Right now just accept that you have a purpose in life and that you are lovable, capable, and worthy of all the blessings God has shared with us as mortals.

May God bless each of us as we move forward in our lives, warts and all.

Duane Jacobs, grandfather, husband, brother, father, uncle, cousin, and friend