Frogified

“For all sad words of tongue or pen,the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’”-Maud Muller John Greenleaf Whittier

I have some sad words this week.  I submitted an application to Teach for America before we learned about resumes in class.  During the lecture, it became increasingly apparent that my resume could have been much stronger than it was.  

From this experience I have learned a valuable lesson: “Don’t do today, what you can put off til tomorrow”.  Though contrary to the more popular version of the statement, I think it is better to “put off til tomorrow” for at least two reasons: (1) returning to a project with a fresh set of eyes often reveals what previously acclimatized eyes missed, and (2) it is possible to learn something new that will affect the project of yesterday.

The story of a frog being dropped into a pot of boiling water, though quite rude, illustrates why it is wise to put fresh eyes on an old project.  After slaving over a paper for days, it is as if I started that paper in a pot of warm water that gradually reached a critical boiling point and cooked me as done as a nun’s romantic life.  Taking a break and returning after a couple of days allows me to experience the paper like a frog being dropped into the already boiling water.  I always see things I didn’t with my acclimatized eyes.  Rather than submitting a paper immediately upon completion, it is best to “put off til tomorrow”.

As was the case with my resume, it is possible to learn something tomorrow that will affect my work today.  If I had waited to submit my resume, I would have been able to use my new knowledge to dramatically improve my work.  Again, for this reason, it is best to “put off til tomorrow”.

I do not mean for my advice to be taken as an extreme.  Obviously, it would be unwise to postpone action indefinitely because of a hope of clearer vision or increased knowledge that would benefit the work at hand.  Someone could argue that if I wait 20 years to submit my resume it could be much stronger because of the added experience I would be able to include in it.  I am not suggesting postponing action indefinitely.  I am suggesting that it may be wise to exercise patience and “put off til tomorrow” when circumstances permit, such as in the case of my resume.

Now what? Don't do today, what you can put off til tomorrow.

Get Rich!

“No one has ever become poor by giving” (Anne Frank).  What did Anne Frank understand about wealth and poverty that the consumer world seems to be ignorant of?  Take a couple minutes to think about what it means to “give” and what it means to be rich or poor.  Here are a couple scriptures to consider as you ponder: Moroni 7:6-10; D&C 11:7.  I hope you have an enlightening study : ).  

So, what does this have to do with MCom?  During team presentations, Jeff started for his team by saying, “Today, we are going to help you to...”  That was impressive to me!  I felt a desire to listen to his presentation because he told me that his purpose was to help me.  Jeff helped me to learn that helping people makes us rich.  

Now what?  I am going to try an experiment this week.  Every morning I am going to ask Heavenly Father to provide me an opportunity to give somebody a gift.  I will look for opportunities during the day, and if none seem to present themselves, I will choose the person and the gift myself.  I’m not talking about wrapped in paper gifts, the gift might be a note, a helping hand, an invitation, or something along those lines.  

Food Fight!

“"We scheduled zone conferences. For each one, Sister Packer baked a three-tiered cake, … decorated beautifully—thick, colorful layers of frosting, trimmed beautifully, and with ‘The Gospel’ inscribed across the top. When the missionaries were assembled, with some ceremony we brought the cake in. It was something to behold!

“As we pointed out that the cake represented the gospel, we asked, ‘Who would like to have some?’ There was always a hungry elder who eagerly volunteered. We called him forward and said, ‘We will serve you first.’ I then sank my fingers into the top of the cake and tore out a large piece. I was careful to clench my fist after tearing it out so that the frosting would ooze through my fingers, and then as the elders sat in total disbelief, I threw the piece of cake to the elder, splattering some frosting down the front of his suit. ‘Would anyone else like some cake?’ I inquired. For some reason, there were no takers.

“Then we produced a crystal dish, a silver fork, a linen napkin, and a beautiful silver serving knife. With great dignity I carefully cut a slice of the cake from the other side, gently set it on the crystal dish, and asked, ‘Would anyone like a piece of cake?’

“The lesson was obvious. It was the same cake in both cases, the same flavor, the same nourishment. The manner of serving either made it inviting, even enticing, or uninviting, even revolting. The cake, we reminded the missionaries, represented the gospel. How were they serving it?" - Story of President Packer as published in Teaching, No Greater Call

Presentation matters. If I care about my message, I need to work to present it in a way that will be received well. Now what? Most of the preparation I do before I teach has to do with my persoanl understanding of the message I will share. In addition to this important form of preparation, I am committed to spending at least 20 minutes preparing how I will present before teaching this week.

Children of the Birthright

I missed class this week for a meeting at the MTC that promised a “special guest.”  I was hoping for an apostle, wishful thinking, but was only slightly disappointed to listen to Brad Wilcox.  He began by asking us why we had needed to serve missions and shot down the common answers.  He compared the common responses to when missionaries teach people that the purpose of the Plan of Salvation is to return to live with God again.  He asked, “If our purpose is just to return to live with God again, why did we leave in the first place!?”  After helping us to feel a thirst for more knowledge, he taught us what it means to be “children of the birthright.”  The fact that we have a change of shoes, extra clothes, electricity, and college education distinguishes us as some of the most richly blessed people on the face of the planet.  The abundance we have been given is accompanied by expectations and responsibilities to bless others.  We are responsible to prepare the earth for the return of our King.  However, it is easy to get distracted by countless other important things. Now what? I am recommitting myself to daily, morning scripture study so I can remember what matters most throughout the day.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/we-are-doing-a-great-work-and-cannot-come-down?lang=eng