Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Final Exams and the Test of Life

For finals every semester there's always so much stress and worrying and cramming that goes into it.  There's so many different kinds of "finals:" projects, presentations, papers, take-home tests, open-book tests, essay tests, long tests, short tests, etc. As I take the tests I have this odd combination of disappointment and relief.  Disappointment because I don't know the material on the test, relief because it's material that I know I never would have covered had I studied another 5 hours like I should have, so it doesn't matter anyways! It's odd:  on one test I missed 3 questions and got a 97% (100 questions total).  On another test I missed 3 questions and got a 25% (4 questions total). The greater the number of questions, the less important each individual question becomes. I always realize at finals week that it's simply not feasible to read the entire text book in a day, no matter how motivated I am - if I slacked off during the semester, it's hard to make it up.

I find many analogies to our test of life. There are so many different tests of life - financial trials, dating issues, marriage problems, family concerns, doubts in testimony, conflicts with friends, natural disasters, etc.  We too can find disappointment and relief from each one of these trials.  Disappointment because they often induce some temporary sadness, but relief, because we know that in the long run, any and all trials will only strengthen us and lift us higher.  

I'm so glad that the test of life doesn't have just 4 questions, or even 100.  The test of life is made up of thousands and millions of questions - every day of our lives. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father is at least tolerant of my mistakes.  While no unclean thing cannot enter His kingdom, he doesn't ask us to always be perfect and get 100% every day - He asks to try our best, to truly do all that we can do.  Not ALL that someone else can do, or not a part of what WE can do, but ALL that WE can do.  As President Monson often says, when the time for performance has come, the time for preparation has passed! It's all about the day to day decisions that either draw us closer to God, or tear us further apart. But unlike most tests, each question is not just weighted 1 point.  Perhaps whether or not we choose to read the scriptures today is a 3 point question, but whether or not we choose to accept and enter into covenants with God is a 300 point question! Luckily, Jesus Christ is the grader, and everyone will be graded with perfect fairness!

I know Heavenly Father doesn't grade on the curve.  There is not bell curve and normal distribution into the Celestial Kingdom of Heaven - He will accept as many of His children who have lived the laws thereby.  However, just like teachers sometimes "add a few points to all scores" Christ's Atonement can boost us all up to that 100% if we do all that He has asked. I know that Heavenly Father loves all His children and nobody is interested in our success and in our ability to "pass" the "final exam" than He is Himself.  And He will do all that HE can to help us return to Him.  Our success and happiness in life is His work and His glory - both His labor and His joy.  

Final exams would always be so much easier with the answer key right next to us.  But if that was the case, we would be proving nothing, and we would have learned nothing.  In life, we too do not have the answer key.  We don't understand the meaning of all things.  Sometimes we'll come across a question that just plain stumps us.  But Life's questions are always very open-book, as we can use all our resources: the scriptures, prayer, personal revelation, leaders, family, and friends.  

I know we can be successful at Life's tests - both daily and in the long run.  I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help us every step of the way.  I know that Christ's suffering in Gethsemane has provided the only way by which our mistakes and wrong answers can be forgiven and we can receive that glorious 100% - Eternal Life with God!

If we cram and study hard for college final exams, how much more so should we all be preparing every single day for the great Final Exam of Life. Thankfully, we're given a practice test each and every day of our lives.  Our goal: Get a better score than yesterday!


Thursday, April 16, 2009

Communication and Prayer

It seems to me people just don't communicate enough. "Hey, what's up?" and "Hi, how are you doing? Gotta run!" as you pass a friend isn't communication much at all.  Of course, as they say, a true friend is one who asks "how are you" and then listens long enough to really hear the answer.  In today's culture there's so much game-playing and face-painting in conversations.  We're so preoccupied what others might think, or how they'll react, that we hold back on most of our true feelings.  Especially when it comes to dating, most people simply abhor the dreaded DTR (Define the Relationship talk), when really, that's what makes friends - friends! In marriage, communication is the number one key to success, so why should it be any different in dating or friendships?

How wonderful it is that our Heavenly Father is a perfect communicator.  He always lets us know exactly how He feels by blessing us with the sweet comfort of the Holy Ghost. At any given moment, we can know if our actions are approved by Him - whether or not we have the Spirit with us.  He communicates to us freely.  It's our responsibility to pay attention and listen.  Through prayer, we can just as freely communicate with Him.  We can, and should, let Him know how we're feeling at any given moment, not for Him, but for us. Of course, He knows how we're feeling - He knows what we need before we do. Prayer, then, is a divine process by which we can, in effect, think out loud and come to understand the things He would have us understand.  We can set goals and make plans with the Lord. We must thank Him for all our blessings - not because He needs it, but because it helps us to be humble and more receptive to His word and revelation. 

Since God so freely communicates with us through His Spirit, and we can talk with Him any time or day through prayer, why should our communication with friends and loved ones be any different?  Let us all be a little more open with our feelings and feel the power of unity in purpose!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Rappelling and Faith

Since I was a little boy my dad has taken me rappelling at least a few times every year.  One of the first times was when, in California, we hiked up to some boulders where he stood on the top, held a rope in his hands, and told me to climb down. Even though I was only about 6, I knew some basic principles of physics (for example, if I let go, I would fall). After much encouragement, I finally "rappelled" down the single rope that was tied to nothing but my dad's waist. I remember how scared I was, how much I resisted going down, how timid I was at the start, and how happy I was when it was over. I had put my trust 100% in my dad, and of course, everything was alright.

I think we have all been in this situation at least once.  Before we came to earth, we all lived with our Heavenly Father as one big happy family in the Pre-mortal Existence. There we learned and grew and made choices.  We wanted to become like our Heavenly Father, but knew that in order to do so, we must come to earth and receive a physical body. As we were up in Heaven and looked at that fearful world way down below, how scared we must have been, much like my fright on the top of the boulder.  

But like my dad, Our Loving Heavenly Father assured us of His tender watch and care over us. He would not let us fall. Maybe every now and then we would bump the rocks along the way, maybe get a cut here and there, but He would never let go. God will always do His part. Unfortunately, sometimes there are some of us who willingly let go of the rope - our connection to The Father - The Gospel, The Word of God, The Living Prophets - and as a result free fall to sorrow and unhappiness.  If we would but trust in Him, and know that He will never let go, know that He is the Rock of Our Salvation, we will safely and happily make it to our destination.

If even a 6-year-old boy can trust his dad to rappel down a boulder, surely we can all have the Faith to completely trust our Perfect and Loving Heavenly Father in our journey through life.