Thanksgiving Interlude

Reflections on a Consecrated Life - Elder D. Todd Christofferson

I know this isn't a Book of Mormon post directly, but it greatly applies to the most recent lessons learned from 2 Nephi. I know, I know. 2 Nephi can probably be applied to ANY Gospel teaching. Bear with me.

The story of this interlude goes like this:
I'm sick with a rotten chest cold. Today is my day off and all I could do was sit, knit, and feel pathetic.
I vowed to go to bed early, but instead I just sat up and browsed knitting patterns and yarn types. I coveted knitted sweaters and tried to figure out how I could afford some yarn.
I went to turn out the light when I saw one of my favorite science fiction novels on the bed. I'd specifically grabbed it to read a section of it tonight, just for fun.
However, as I was going to ditch my Gospel study after wasting so much time tonight, I felt funny about reading something else instead. I decided to just go to sleep.
But I picked up the novel and leafed the pages...and a printout of this talk literally FELL OUT of the book.
And these were the first words I read (having underlined them when I read the talk originally):

Life offers you two precious gifts--one is time, the other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what you will...

Yours is the freedom to choose. But these are no bargains, for in them you find no lasting satisfaction.

Every day, every hour, every minute of your span of mortal years must sometime be accounted for. And it is in this life that you walk by faith and prove yourself able to choose good over evil, right over wrong, enduring happiness over mere amusement. And your eternal reward will be according to your choosing.

Elder Richard L. Evans, as quoted by Elder Christofferson

Do you see my problem? I didn't feel bad or guilty, but it was an immediate wake up for me. This life is all the time I have to prove to Heavenly Father that I can be trusted with the blessings he has for me. As Jacob so eloquently points out in his sermon that I'm still reading, the choice is mine. Satan would have me choose him...and it occurs to me that simply not choosing anything at all is about the same as not choosing Heavenly Father. There's no way to end up on neutral ground.

Time is something that I will struggle with for the rest of my mortal years. I'm so jealous of it. Possessive. I stress about it, I try not to waste it. I want more of it all to myself. It tires me to share it with others. I divide it like a miser. It's ridiculous. CS Lewis said that mortal man is simply silly to treat time like it belongs to him. It, like everything else, is a great and glorious gift given to us by a loving God. It's a measurement of our span of mortal existence. Nothing more.We have stewardship over the time that has been given to us. But it is not ours.

So when Elder C. explains 'consecration' in this talk, he is kindly reminding us what it means. "To set apart or dedicate something as sacred, devoted to holy purposes." Time, talents, money, and everything you possess, or everything you may yet possess...to the building up of the Kingdom of God.

Part of that building up is taking care of myself. Time to sleep. Get better. Cook and eat healthy. Time to exercise. Learn. Another part is serving others in the Kingdom. Visiting Teaching. Service projects. Temple work. Another part is building eternal relationships with family and loved ones. Why do I seem to really suck at all of those?

I guess I don't. I just feel like I do right now, after a day of being lame. I need to sleep, drink fluids, get better, and get back to work. I need to take time to pray. More often and more sincerely. I think that's my lesson for now...