Our role in bringing joy

December 7, 2014

Over the years many people have commented on the level of spirituality, the veracity of presenters in spiritual congregations, the lack of reverence, the poorly presented lessons and the sad state of affairs related to presentations of biblical/scriptural items in general. There is a perfect answer to these questions that perhaps can best be answered through a story told in cartoon by the author of “POGO”.

This cartoon was in the Sunday “funnies” (I chose to call it my philosophy page) and went on for many weeks. Pogo had been deprived of something he dearly needed. The process of searching for this item became so intense that he actually forgot what it was he was searching for but continued anyway. He began to call the dastardly beast that had deprived him of his possession the “enemy”. One fruitless search after led nowhere, but before he gave up he determined to give his search one more chance. He went back to each of the places he had previously search, then went home in total disillusionment and sat down on his throne (that would be toilet in his vernacular). He looked up and was aghast to see the perpetrator right in front of him. Looking straight in the mirror, he exclaimed, “I have met the enemy and the enemy is ME.” Actually, he said the enemy is US, but here I take literary license because it makes more sense in my rewriting.

Our job as administrators of our soul is to reach up, reach out, look around, for those who are in need of the blessings of God; then, share those things which are most precious to you regarding how you find joy in a crazy world. The next time you are at church, at a picnic, at school, at work, at the store, or at home look long and hard within your soul for the Spirit of Christ. Watch what happens when you come up to someone longing for a little friendship, a little milk of human kindness. Don’t be preachy. Just talk to them with a heart that cares.

I have seen many become disillusioned with life, with themselves, with their family, and everything else – then blame all the wrongs on Church, God, and whatever they might conjure except themselves. Like POGO, we often lose ourselves because we misunderstand our earthly mission. We go to church to share our needs and talents with others.  We participate in the Sacrament because we wish to cleanse ourselves of the misdeeds we have enjoyed; then strive to do ungodly things again.

Our life mission boils down to our doing everything we can to be ministering angels through listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, then following with urgent assistance to all around us. We need to bring the Spirit of Christ to our meetings and share it with those around us. I have two young friends in prison because they got lost in the traffic and trappings of life. So busy looking for the perfect mate, the perfect ideology, the best job, and the most beneficial social presence, they – actually WE – go through life like a roman candle lighted at both ends. In our attempt to find perfection we find ourselves at eternity’s door wondering what happened during our few seconds of temporal life.

I am the very first to admit to my mortality, to my weaknesses, to my utter lack of purpose on many occasions as I spend a day. This is for me as I try to carry out my earthly mission. I am not going to let a moment go by when I am not watching, listening, and praying for opportunities to share with others. Jean and I have been blessed way beyond our understanding. We have not lived a charmed life; nor do we think we are anywhere close to ready to report to our maker; however, we are committed to trying to do a little better each day. We will look in Pogo’s mirror soon enough and hopefully be ready to tell our savior that we have done our best to life a life representative of our capabilities.

God bless us all during this exciting Christmas season as we ponder the beauties of life and the opportunities we have to assist in bringing blessings to His children.

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