Elder Joshua Douglas Smith Birthday Email It is really incredible to think that last year today I was giving my farewell talk! In 10 days I hit my one year mark--which totally blows my mind. The time has flown by so fast. Ive experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows (pardon my missionary-of-one-year blast of nostalgia). Ive learned a lot though over this last Elder Joshua Douglas Smith Birthday Email It is really incredible to think that last year today I was giving my farewell talk! In 10 days I hit my one year mark--which totally blows my mind. The time has flown by so fast. Ive experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows (pardon my missionary-of-one-year blast of nostalgia). Ive learned a lot though over this last year; and I want to share a few of those lessons. Keep in mind, this is far from a comprehensive list If you would like the full list of lessons from my mission, contact me in a year and two weeks after Ive returned home and re-read my journals and Ill give you the run down! Lesson Number One: The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. It is powerful and intimate beyond my human ability to understand; but Ive felt and seen it work beyond my human ability to doubt. It is beautiful, simple, and straightforward. The Atonement--unlike anything else--is truly one size fits all. One single act--planned by the Omniscient Father, and executed by his unfaltering Son--was performed for all at large, and yet reaches each of us personally. Anyone can use it; regardless of what they look like or where they are. No matter what your background, life experience, or upbringing--the Atonement fits. No matter what your level of knowledge, strength of faith, or level of hope--the Atonement fits. If your life is bliss and every day is a merry-go-round of joy the Atonement can make it brighter. If the clouds of doubt and depression have caused your spiritual forecast to read nothing by overcast with a chance of rain, the bright shining rays of Christs love can clear the skies and bring warmth to everything. If your life is lost, and all the pain and distress you must bear has shackled your motivation, crippled your spirit, and crushed your faith the Atonement can take your broken wings and you can learn to fly again (shout out to Mr. Mister for accidentally teaching us about the Atonement in his Billboard Hit). I love the Atonement. I love seeing lives begin to change the instant individuals give room for the Atonement in their hearts. Lesson Number Two: People are fascinating. Every individual we walk by on the street, or work with, or see in cars on the street, or meet has their own story. I think the biggest pitfall of humans is that were all egocentric. Im not talking about the ego-centrism that many people have that causes them to be so blatantly narcissistic that their own personal needs and wants screams louder than me when I step on a Lego (maybe you know the type); Im talking about the type of ego-centrism that leads us to go about our day thinking whats next on MY agenda? What am I going to eat for lunch? What does that person think of ME? With all the me, me me that always occupies our minds, its so easy to miss the myriad of opportunities we have to meet new people, get to know them, and hear their stories. Even more exciting is the knowledge that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM has questions they want answered. And we have the answers to EVERY SINGLE QUESTION (actually, we only have the answer to the important questions... but if you get really good at changing the subject they will eventually stop asking where God came from...). So we should all keep our eyes open for the chance to serve OTHERS. A mission is a great way to learn that Lesson Number Three: Change is a process. Dont expect perfection--in yourself or others--all at once. Everyone has incredible potential, but everyone will reach their full potential at different times (actually, none of us will truly reach our full potential until after this life, so yeah, patience is a virtue). Ive learned how important it is to enjoy the process of change and not get discouraged when it takes longer than I had hoped. Lesson Number Four: Do not fall asleep in a suit. No matter how tired you are just PUSH THROUGH AND CHANGE!!! They have the capacity to strangle and entangle you unlike anything you will ever experience. Sweat and tears will ensure. Panic attacks in the middle of the night will follow. Umm... wow, pretty much my whole email time is gone now Ill have to send more lessons later! I love you all so much! Thank you for being such incredible people and making my day every time I think about you all! Oh, and by the way, transfers were this week and I got a new companion. Elder Gemar from Saratoga Springs! Ill write more details about all that next week! Love, Elder Joshua Douglas
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 03:08:05 +0000
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