October 2009's General Conference has left both me and my husband, Kurt, reflecting. On our drive home from Utah, he said that the overwhelming theme to him this conference was that it was time to choose. No more fence sitting ~ you either did things or you didn't; you either chose the Lord or you chose something else.
I have a new quote (though I don't know the author) hanging by my desk. I saw it in our friend's house when we stayed over before our cruise in August. It reads:
If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God as a goal in life, it will - in the end - make no difference what you choose instead.
Amen!
One of the impressions I had as the conference ended and as Kurt and I talked was that I have no desire to be mediocre. We have no desire to be mediocre. I read Kurt the experience Heber C. Kimball and his companions had the night before they baptized the first saints in England. They were shaken by demons and evil spirits and were shown just how many were working to keep them from accomplishing the work.
We discussed how the adversary's work is one of distraction. He doesn't really have to get us to do things that are bad; he simply has to keep us from doing all the good we can. He has to keep us from moving forward; keep us from making progress and gaining self-earned, God-given strength.
If he can keep us at "mediocre" levels, he will accomplish an awful lot.
And so, it is our desire to fight against mediocrity, because I have no desire to be mediocre.
And I honestly feel the potential within myself that makes me believe that I am meant for so much more than anything mediocre.
So. Much. More.
All of us have this potential, but maybe we're already convinced that we can be happy with mediocre. That mediocre is good enough. I have had thoughts that have tried to convince me of that.
I don't believe Heavenly Father created us to be mediocre. I don't believe that He saved us for this time and place, just to "get by".
We are destined for greatness, needed to stand up for all that is right, help grow and progress the Kingdom (even if that means only within the walls of our own homes most of the time), and to be "doers of the word, not hearers only."
I am not meant for mediocrity.
C.S. Lewis said, "We are half hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when INFINITE JOY is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased!"
After Heber and his companions fought off (through prayer and the Priesthood) each of the demons trying to thwart them, they received an outpouring of the Lord's spirit.
We are all entitled to such experiences, if we are just willing to get up and TRY.
I have a desire to fulfill my potential. To not look back, when my life is over, and see a series of regrets and disappointments.
Today I lift my eyes above my circumstances and search for the greatness I know is within.
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Maryhelen is married to a Real American Hero and has 5 children, ages 14 years to 14 months, all of them boys but 4. She attended Albertson College and her resume says she is currently the CEO/CFO of her own up-and-coming family corporation, and she's sticking to that. Hobbies include talking, sitting down, breathing and eating, with the hope of someday completing a full thought in one sitting. She blogs at His Daughter First.