Life Lessons from a Road Trip

My good friend was married a few weeks ago in the LDS Washington D.C. Temple and my other friend and I made an epic road trip down south, and then down to South Carolina for the reception.  We learned a few things...

1. Always listen to the still small voice. 

As we were passing through Virginia, notorious for its policemen, my friend was speeding along talking to his girlfriend in the passenger seat. From the back seat I was carefully monitoring his speed on my GPS. I quietly reminded him to slow down (we got a ticket last year doing the same thing!). A second time I had to remind him and finally he went down to the limit. Just then, we passed a nice police man parked on the side of the freeway! 

For some reason, I was able to play the role of the "still small voice." We always know what we should be doing, especially when some of God's commandments are as clear and precise as speed limits (such as tithing and word of wisdom), but sometimes we just a need a little reminder. I'm so grateful for the Spirit and His little reminders in my life, whether through friends to slow down while driving, or - as a man in Russia described it- "a feeling to grab the umbrella when it's still sunny outside."

2. It pays to plan and act now.

Over the weekend we needed a hotel 3 nights, all in different places. Because we weren't quite sure what was happening and where we were going to be, we didn't book any of them ahead of time. The first night it was 10:30 pm in Washington D.C. when we started just driving around hoping to find a little no-name place. After about 2 hours we gave up and drove all the way home to PA, just to return to DC early the next morning. BAD. Another night we began looking for a hotel about 9:30 pm in Fayetville, NC. We used the GPS to get phone numbers and called around until we finally found a cheap enough hotel nearby. We didn't pay a lot, but I never expected to pay for the dead bugs, broken sink, disturbing bathroom, and ripped sheets that we found. BAD. Another night we began about 3:30 pm to call all around. We called a ton of places and really worked hard and finally found a wonderful hotel close by. It was peaceful and rejuvenating. GOOD!

When we procrastinate, we only make trouble for ourselves. As President Monson says, "when the time for performance has come, the time for preparation has passed" or "proper prior preparation prevents poor performance." I think about this principle with things like reading and praying and going to the temple.  If we wait until the "11th hour" to do these things, they'll either not happen or be a bad experience, just like with the hotels. But if we just get down on our knees right when we have the thought, or open the Book of Mormon right then, or make going to the temple our top priority, it will likewise be peaceful and rejuvenating. Let us all keep the dead cockroaches out of our lives by planning, preparing, and acting now!

3. Life is not a competition. 

My best friend brought his girlfriend along for the trip. Over the weekend we began to realize that we both felt that we were competing for my friend's attention. At one point we had him ask us questions about his life to see who knew more about him. Of course, there was no winner, and most of it was in jest to begin with.  We can all be friends together! Instead of she and I competing for his attention, we found that instead we could be more united thanks to the common link of our mutual best friend!

When we begin to compare ourselves - our talents, abilities, knowledge, experience, appearance, etc - to others, we only begin to short change ourselves. What a true gift and blessing it is to be satisfied and content with what we have. Life is not a competition. Through prayer we can gain a profound gratitude for all the wonderful things in our lives. Instead of always competing with those around us - our brothers and sisters - we too can find a peaceful unity and brotherhood, bound together by our common Father in Heaven who loves us all equally!

4. It's okay to have fun. 

The wedding reception was held in the bride's beautiful backyard. The focal point of the yard was a bright blue glimmering swimming pool. As expected, the bride was trying to rally up some troops to get her now-husband (my friend) to change out of his tux so she could throw him in the pool. Very unexpectedly, however, still in their tux and wedding dress he slung her over his shoulder and splashed in. I was actually quite mortified, on her behalf, and couldn't believe it. When another groomsmen tried to throw me in, I was dead-set not to get wet. After about the 3rd wrestling match, I finally gave in and emptied my pockets. And it wasn't that bad. In fact, it was brilliantly fun! A perfect ending.

As important as it is to work hard and "be sober" ("meaning being earnest and serious in assessing your circumstances and careful and circumspect in weighing the consequences of your actions") as the ancient prophets counseled, it's just as important to have a little fun. Know one likes a stickler leader, but one who leads by example and has fun. The wedding party was more united by our crazy experience together, just as having fun while at church will often bring us closer together. As all things in life, it is a happy balance of moderation.