listen..

When I first got the "call" to start this blog on service and friendship I had an experience that I felt needed to be shared.

I was leaving the gym early one morning in a rush  to get home to send my kids of to school when I saw someones car lights on.  I got in my car quickly and started my engine, reminding myself that it would be ok if I didn't run back in the gym and find the driver of the vehicle.  I came up with every excuse out there.  Right as I turned to leave, I slammed on the breaks when I felt the words in my heart, "Auna, if I can't trust you with this, then what can I trust you with?"  Simple, but a punch in the gut and with a sharp left turn and up straight through to my heart.  I put it in park, ran in and asked the first person at the desk if she had a minivan with its lights on and of course it was.  This experience reminded me in a simple way that I need to follow the promptings of the spirit no matter how small or  inconsequential we may think it is.  We never know. 

I was headed home from Costco during the summer when  I saw a 15 passenger bus that was pulled over on the side of the road with flashing lights.  I again reasoned with myself that they were fine.  We live in the cell phone age, where paramedics could be there in 5 min. flat.   Yet, I couldn't shake that nagging feeling, so I wheeled the car around and pulled up behind them.  I met two bell choir directors and ten of their crew.  One boy had gotten ill.  They had been traveling for a day and still had one more day til they arrived at their competition.    I grabbed my first box of Creamies I have ever purchased at Costco and handed out popsicles.  It was divine intervention, because I was going to buy ice cream that day.  A Popsicle miracle! ;-)

When I was due, I mean overly due, with my last baby, I was sitting at home with my 3 youngest kidos.  They were watching cartoons and I was practicing my relaxation/mediation for delivery she, POP, I mean literally I heard and felt a pop and all of a sudden I felt like I had peed my pants.  I went to change and realized my water had broke.  Immediately my phone starting ringing, it was my dear friend and visiting teacher ( women who look after women), Mindy, calling to check on me.  She asked how I was, I said, "Great!"  She asked then, "What can I do?"  I said, "Well I am pretty sure my water just broke and I am alone with my kids.  Can you come over?"  She sped over in ten minutes and pulled in just as my husband arrived.  I thanked her repeatedly for following the inspiration and she said it was nothing, but it was.  I think too many times we get a thought to help someone and push it aside as nothing of importance but it may be.  This reminds me of a story told by President Thomas S. Monson:

My brothers and sisters, the Lord’s purposes are often accomplished as we pay heed to the guidance of the Spirit. I believe that the more we act upon the inspiration and impressions which come to us, the more the Lord will entrust to us His errands.

I have learned, as I have mentioned in previous messages, never to postpone a prompting. On one occasion many years ago, I was swimming laps at the old Deseret Gym in Salt Lake City when I felt the inspiration to go to the University Hospital to visit a good friend of mine who had lost the use of his lower limbs because of a malignancy and the surgery which followed. I immediately left the pool, dressed, and was soon on my way to see this good man.

When I arrived at his room, I found that it was empty. Upon inquiry I learned I would probably find him in the swimming pool area of the hospital, an area which was used for physical therapy. Such turned out to be the case. He had guided himself there in his wheelchair and was the only occupant of the room. He was on the far side of the pool, near the deep end. I called to him, and he maneuvered his wheelchair over to greet me. We had an enjoyable visit, and I accompanied him back to his hospital room, where I gave him a blessing.

I learned later from my friend that he had been utterly despondent that day and had been contemplating taking his own life. He had prayed for relief but began to feel that his prayers had gone unanswered. He went to the pool with the thought that this would be a way to end his misery—by guiding his wheelchair into the deep end of the pool. I had arrived at a critical moment, in response to what I know was inspiration from on high.

My friend was able to live many more years—years filled with happiness and gratitude. How pleased I am to have been an instrument in the Lord’s hands on that critical day at the swimming pool.

We all have been given the gift of agency, the freedom to choose.  Living in America, we are given more freedoms than most of the world.  Everyone on earth has been given the Light of Christ that shines within us.  The Light of Christ has been said to be our conscience.  We all inherently know right from wrong and we have agency to choose to do the right thing…but do we?  How many times have we chosen to go against our moral code?  I know for myself, too many times to consider.  I am far from perfect; I struggle with anger management;  I find it difficult to love myself;  I please others before God;  I have yet to return silver wear from a church function.  Okay, the last one is true but  I am sounding like a Narcissist here, so I will try to ver back on track.

Throughout our lives we will have thousands of opportunities to listen to the promptings God sends our way through the Holy Ghost.  We have the gift to use our agency for good; to better the lives around us and within us.  Pray to recognize the spirit and immediately follow the council.

Be kind.  Listen to the Light within and follow His mission.  For when we are following the Lord's mission, we will find it is our mission.