We just recently had a Stake Conference. For Mormon’s, stake conference is when the whole area gets together for one large-scale meeting where we often hear from a general authority and the stake presidency. During this conference one of the counselors in our stake presidency (President Green), made a comment that really resonated with me.
He stood up and said “I love to see the temple, I’m going there someday”, quoting the words to one of the popular Mormon Primary songs.
But, he added, why is it always “someday”? Why isn’t it “I love to see the temple, I’m going there today”… or tomorrow, or next month, or something specific?
The problem is that we too often procrastinate things in our life that are important. Going to the temple is only one example, but it could just as easily be seeing the bishop, repenting, forsaking that favorite sin, apologizing to someone, forgiving someone, serving someone, etc.
There are all kinds of things in our lives that press for our attention, and we tend to focus the most on those things that are most urgent, not necessarily most important. Because of this, we end up convincing ourselves that we’ll do it “someday”.
How about today? If not today, then set a date. Make it real. Get it done. You’ll be happier once you do.
Life is often about momentum, and momentum is nothing more than the accumulated effect of lots of little steps. So take a little step, set a date, and do it.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, in “The builders” presents this case well. He also readdresses it in his poem “A Psalm of Life” when he says”
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each tomorrow
Find us farther than today.
Rusty
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I appreciated so much a comment made by Margaret over on “A Psalm of Life”, I wanted to include it here, along with my response.
She said:
My reply to her was:
It’s wonderful to surround ourselves by people so willing to sacrifice for what is important.
Rusty
Another wonderful post, Rusty.
I am afraid to even admit that I live just minutes away from a temple. I am so blessed. I have access to many more within a 2-3 hour drive. So one would think that I attend on a regular basis. What’s my excuse when I do not? A line from your post sums it very well:
“we tend to focus the most on those things that are most urgent, not necessarily most important”
Life is very difficult because there are so many URGENT things (and many are very GOOD things) competing for our time. We need gentle reminders, like you have provided here, to stop and reassess our priorities.
“I love to see the temple, I’m going there Friday!”
LOL, I love it! Good for you. You said it well. It’s the law of scarcity. We tend to undervalue those things that are in great abundance – like proximity to the houses of the Lord.