Stay on Your Bike

Back in April, I participated in a triathlon. It was not a serious one where you swam a mile, rode a bike for twenty, and ran thirty; in fact, any of you hard core athletes or triathlon trainees would probably laugh at the demands of this race. However, it was to be fun, and it was. We swam 75 meters (in freezing cold water might I add), rode our bikes 6 miles, and ran approximately 2 miles. So you see, nothing Olympic, but a little difficult, nonetheless. As the weeks went on and the closer we got to the time of the race, I began to think more about what it was going to be like and how hard it was going to be.

 I was a member of my schools track team and had been training with them for at least two months. There was no doubt in my mind that I was in shape; I ran everyday and I was fairly strong. I wasn't concerned about the swim portion of the triathlon but began to be nervous about the two mile run. I was a hurdler, not a distance runner, this last leg would surely kill me!! However, amid my preparation, I completely disregarded the biking portion. I was in shape and I knew how to stay on top of a bike; it was, or so I thought, going to be the easiest part of all the race. Oh how badly I had miscalculated that.

As I pulled myself out of that freezing pool and jogged back to where my bike was, I felt drained of my strength. The cold water made it difficult to swim efficiently and made it even harder to breathe. So, as I jumped on my bike, I didn't know that these next six miles would be so difficult. My quads burned as I made it up the slowly increasing slope. I couldn't dig hard enough and my legs felt like they couldn't will themselves to pedal me any further. I began to doubt I would have the endurance to finish this course and wanted to quit so badly as more and more bikes passed me. I was so frustrated! This was supposed to be the easiest part! The wind blew in my face, biting my cheeks and requiring extra effort to push through it. To top it off, as I got closer to the half way mark to turn around, signaling an easier ending to the biking, there was one steep hill to climb. I couldn't do it. There was no way I could climb this hill. Despite myself, I persisted in pedaling.

Pushing, digging, and regretting I hadn't biked more prior to this triathlon, I slowly and painfully inched up the hill. I began to pass many people that had hopped off their bikes and began walking up the hill. How easy that would've been, to step off my bike and walk the remainder of the hill, but I was not going to give up. I wanted to relieve my legs so badly, but I knew giving in would only hurt me in the end. The hill eventually ended and so did the biking, but I was still amazed at how physically grueling it all was. I felt pathetic, I was riding a bike! How hard could that be! Why had I not been able to do this so easily? I had underestimated this challenge.

Although I had been training, I was training for running, not biking. I was in shape for the wrong race. This happens a lot in life. We'll get caught up in the wrong things in this world, and that doesn't always mean they are "bad" things. We'll train in order to get jobs or money or status. We give our time and effort to things we think will help and prepare us for the future, like my track training, but we'll often forget things that will truly strengthen us, like riding my bike. 
For example: I could go to school, and I could devote all my time to studying and working in order to achieve success for my future. Like my training for track, I wasn't doing anything bad and I was preparing myself for some of the challenges I would face, but not all of them. Furthermore, because my days are so long, I come home and forget to read my scriptures or say my prayers or countless other things. I leave out a huge part of life preparation that I'll need, spiritual preparation, by disregarded how important such simple things could be. Therefore, when the time comes when I do need the Lord or when the real trial hits, it'll demand more of me from my weaker areas. It'll require from me things I never consider to be significant in the first place because I didn't acknowledge them. If I, or anyone us, forget that the most important thing is to be spiritually fit, when that real race begins, we aren't ready for it and it will be harder for us. As important as "track training" is in our lives whether it be school or work, we must never forget to "ride our bikes" and do the things the Lord would have us do.

Sometimes the hardest battles we will have to face are disguised as the easiest and too often underestimated.

I learned on that day that trials are never what we plan for them to be, but as long as we remain faithful, or on that bike, our loads are eventually lightened and we will gain strength and knowledge. Preparation is huge; whether it be preparing for a test, preparing for a career, or preparing for our eternal salvation, we must never underestimate a trial, for Satan loves nothing more than to distorted our view. Stay on your bike.

 

 

"Your mission is PREPARATION, it is your school to eternity." - President Spencer W Kimball

Tribute to My Father

My dad is an extraordinary man. He is a man of honor, valor, integrity, strength, and faith. He is provider for our family both temporally and spiritually, and I am forever grateful for his example. He has helped in teaching me right from wrong, what hard work looks like, and how a real man will treat his wife. The way he loves and honors my mother has taught me to keep my standards high and to never settle. He has been there for me in times of success as well as in times of failure. Whether it has been watching me cross the finish line at the State track meet or watching me cross the stage to receive my diploma or reading my Bio textbook to me when I had been doing homework for hours, he has supported my goals and helped me achieve them. He has encouraged my aspirations and taught me to always aim high. My dad is my massage therapist, confidant, protector and so much more. Although those attributes that my father holds are admirable, one of the most important things for me is that he honors his Priesthood. By honoring his Priesthood, he has taught me to put God first and that the covenants we make with the Lord are nothing to take lightly: they are sacred. Since my father reveres his Priesthood, I have been greatly blessed with the power of God within the walls of my home; I can call upon his Priesthood whenever I need comfort, direction, or healing. My dad is extraordinary.

My Heavenly Father is extraordinary as well. He has given me the world, and by that I literally mean the world. He has created this glorious place for me, for us, and has given us the ability to explore it and enjoy it. My Heavenly Father has heard my prayers in times of joy, sorrow, and confusion. I have seen his hand in my life as people have served me, as I have felt comfort from the words of prophets both from the past and present, and so much more. God has taught me about what it means to truly live, to truly love, and to be truly happy; He has lifted up my sad heart and given me direction in times I didn't know what to do. He has helped me and supported me always steering my in the right direction. I thank Him for knowing what I needed more than I knew myself. Although I can't see Him, I can feel his love around me always. I know He loves me and loves each and every one of us because He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, for our lives in order for us to return to Him. That is a sacrifice we cannot repay, and it was given to us out of pure love for us. OUR Heavenly Father is extraordinary.

Enclosed in this post I have shared one of my favorite Mormon Messages. It speaks volumes to me about Fathers; both the ones here on earth and the One up in Heaven. Click on the link below!
                                 
                      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5FxdCgD-qI

An Unexpected Friend.

I recently received a beautiful letter from one of my younger friends, and it made me well up with tears. She's about three/four years younger than I am and I have known her since she was about twelve. I'd say she's one of my best friends, but we didn't start out that way...

I was about fifteen when she joined Young Women (I'm LDS and this is a girls' youth program in my church). I decided that as a welcoming gift I would give her a duct tape purse with candy and a note. I was so excited to give her the gift! When I gave it to her she seemed excited too, but the next school year started soon and this young woman became very reclusive. She didn't talk much to anyone, but when she did it was typically short and sometimes negative. I tried my hardest to be always nice to her but she seemed to push me away. I was frustrated! Why wouldn't she be nice back? Why was she so guarded? I didn't know these answers, but I don't think the Lord wanted me to.

Nonetheless, I persisted in being kind, inclusive, and supportive of her. When she looked lonely, I would at least say hi to her or joke around with her. She would react the same way every time, but slowly and surely I got use to how she was and I was no longer hurt by her. About two years later, this young women completely transformed. She became brighter and happier to be around. She laughed more freely, she talked more freely, she just looked free. I spent a lot of time with her on the swim team, seminary, track, and just church in general; fortunately for me, we became close friends! In fact, we went up as a youth to see General Conference and on that trip we really bonded. I'm beyond grateful for this unexpected friend.

As I think back to the first two years of our friendship, I never expected this young woman to become one of my best friends. I never expected for her to change that drastically. I never expected her to write me a letter.

Closed in the letter was a thank you. She discussed how hard those two years had been and expressed how thankful she was for my kindness. I had no clue she was struggling. I have no idea why I continued to show her kindness. I had no expectation of a thank you; in fact, I don't feel I really deserved one. But I know that God deserves my thank you. I thank Him for blessing me with patience those past two years. I thank Him for knowing what I needed more than I did. I didn't know that my persistence would lead to this great friendship, but the Lord knew that, so He led me forward. The Lord knew the circumstances of this young woman, I was merely an instrument in HIS hands. I thank Him for this wonderful lesson I have learned:

We are blind to the trials of those around us. We can see people that may be struggling, but do we always know why? But the why isn't important. Our kindness to ALL is required of us. You never know who's heart your lifting up as you share a smile or your TIME. I love President Thomas S. Monson's quote, "Never let a problem to be solved be more important than a PERSON to be LOVED." Those words ring true. How many times do we try to solve the problems of those around us? I'm guilty of that too, but sometimes all that person needs is LOVE. They need encouragement. The world needs more friends. But like Gandhi once said, "[We] must be the change [we] want to see in the world." Go out and change the world. Be a friend, share a smile, and uplift those around you. I thank all the people who have loved me and taken me in as a friend; I hope you know, as I have learned, your influence goes beyond the friendly gestures.