I remember watching a movie
once where a man who had been in prison for most of his life was well into his
twilight years when he was finally paroled. I’m guessing it was the late 1940s.
He wrote a letter to his friends back in prison about how he was struggling in
this new environment, and he noted, “The world went and got itself in a big
hurry.” I remember it struck me that he considered the era of the 1940s to be “in
a big hurry.”
The world is noisy, isn't it?
It’s noisy and in a hurry and a lot of the time it seems like the noise is
primarily distractions from what matters the most. Sometimes those distractions
are fun--I’ll admit I’m distracted pretty easily. Sometimes I’m annoyed by the
distractions; or I’m annoyed with myself for getting distracted and giving
my devotion to "lesser things."
Anyway, I've recently felt
weary of the world. Do you ever get that sensation? It’s clearly my own fault. I think
I have probably given excess time and attention to noisy things that really aren't worth such focus. Somehow, maybe
because the noise was so loud, I figured it must
need my attention; and it was getting
it. And it exhausted me.
I almost felt like I was
holding my breath for this General Conference. I don’t know if I've ever
approached a Conference Weekend with a more prayerful heart. I was anxious to
inhale it all, and I felt like what I was seeking came fast and powerful; like
taking a drink of water from a fire hose.
As soon as Conference started, I felt it. I continued to feel
reassurance throughout the entire weekend of who I am, what truth is, what is important,
what nourishes me, where my happiness comes from, where safety is, and why
divinity makes all the difference. I felt gratitude for leaders who love and
sacrifice and know the Lord and never fear. I felt still. I thought it was a really great weekend. I hope you enjoyed it too!
