The Choosiest Chooser

It's amazing how quickly our lives point us towards the plan of salvation as shown to us by our Heavenly Father. For those who know this plan, it seems that no matter how distracted we get from other events in life, that same path still becomes our direction. I've noticed this lately as it's felt like since I got here to BYU that my life has still been a bit wandersome. I feel like I have something nailed down and then its shaken up again just a bit so that I have to readjust once more.

I found myself the other day being quite unstable in my ability to just focus on my path ahead of me and instead was looking around at anything that was around me as I walked to the school. I was reading everything and analyzing every detail of my surroundings. I eventually noticed I was doing this and asked myself what I was looking for. The answer? A sign. I thought about the tendency I was having to look for any sort of direction marker for my life. Even a license plate with a few key letters would stick out to me and I would wonder if it was significant. In not too long I realize how silly this was. When God designed His plan, He didn't create it so that as we go through life we're supposed to be on a scavenger hunt for his clues and map points. That would be silly and contrary to our purpose on this life. Although He is known for intervening at times when our paths are on a collision course with great sorrow, I believe now that He really does want us to learn to make our own choices and really be GOOD at doing so. We need to know how to make choices that bring about the best results/consequences and judge righteously from right and wrong. It's difficult, especially for me it seems, since we have such an Earthly view and can only see a few hundred meters into our future it feels like. But that view must expand and lengthen as we obtain a greater spirit and a greater faith.

I've told a couple friends now of the difference in view I noticed between when I was on the mission and when I returned home. While a missionary I was living a life that was directed wholly by the spirit. The work could not be performed or at least successful without that sort of companionship. Thankfully I felt like I acquired that to a sufficient amount to bring about great works. While in this companionship with the spirit, it truly felt like I could see above and beyond the heads of those around me. It was like I was standing on stilts and could see more and farther. When I spoke to those who were attempting to make choices of significance I felt that spirit fill me and expand my vision enough that I could righteously give counsel to those who could not see as far. I knew the consequences of some peoples actions before they chose them. I knew I could promise them certain outcomes. When I returned home from the mission and began making choices for my own life, it felt like I had fallen back down to earth and was no longer on those stilts. There must be no exceptions for any individual in this plan. We all have to learn to choose for ourselves and become good choosers as we do so. Though the spirit and the Gospel give a good compass reading so to speak, we still have to take the journey through the dark and dreary world holding onto that rod of iron.

So far its felt like I've made relatively good choices, but it still feels like I'm living from choice to choice and I'm looking for that directional sign to get me going in a comfortable path. That sign may never come though and so I plan on being a better chooser every day. The best way to do that I'm guessing is to keep the spirit close through whatever means I need to. That is my plan and that is my latest choice I guess. Just from past experience I think I can already say I'm going to be just fine with that path.