Always in the Middle
By many world calendars, July marks the middle of the year.
While the beginnings and endings of things are celebrated and remembered, the
middle of things often goes unnoticed.
Beginnings are times for making resolutions, for creating plans,
for bursts of energy. Endings are times for winding down and may involve
feelings of completion or loss. But with the proper outlook, considering
ourselves as in the middle of things can help us
not only to understand life a little better but also to live it a little more
meaningfully.
When I speak to our young missionaries, I often tell them they
are in the middle of their missions. Whether they just arrived the day before
or are to depart for home the day after, I ask them to think of themselves as
always being in the middle.
New missionaries may feel they are too inexperienced to be
effective, and so they delay speaking or acting with confidence and boldness.
Seasoned missionaries who are close to completing their missions may feel sad
their missions are coming to a close, or they may slow down as they contemplate
what they will do after their missions.
Whatever the circumstances and wherever they serve, the truth is
that the Lord’s missionaries are daily sowing countless seeds of good tidings.
Thinking of themselves as always being in the middle of their missions will
embolden and energize these faithful representatives of the Lord. As it is with
full-time missionaries, so it is with all of us.
We Are Always in the Middle
This change in perspective is more than a simple trick of the
mind. There is a sublime truth behind the idea that we are always in the
middle. If we look at our location on a map, we are tempted to say we are at a
beginning. But if we look more closely, wherever we are is simply in the middle
of a larger place.
As it is with space, so it is with time. We may feel we are at
the beginning or end of our lives, but when we look at where we are against the
backdrop of eternity—when we realize that our spirit has existed for time
beyond our capacity to measure and, because of the perfect sacrifice and
Atonement of Jesus Christ, that
our soul will exist for an eternity to come—we can recognize that we are truly
in the middle.
Recently I felt impressed to redo the headstone on my parents’
grave. Time had not been kind to the grave site, and I felt that a new
headstone would be more fitting for their exemplary lives. When I looked at the
birth dates and death dates on the headstone connected by the usual
insignificant little dash, this small symbol of a lifespan suddenly filled my
mind and heart with an abundance of rich memories. Each of these treasured
memories reflects a moment in the middle of my parents’ lives and in the middle
of my life.
Whatever our age, whatever our location, when things occur in
our lives, we are always in the middle. What’s more, we will forever be in the
middle.
The Hope of Being in the Middle
Yes, there will be moments of beginnings and moments of endings
throughout our lives, but these are only markers along the way of the great
middle of our eternal lives. Whether we are at the beginning or the end,
whether we are young or old, the Lord can use us for His purposes if we simply
set aside whatever thoughts limit our ability to serve and allow His will to
shape our lives.
The Psalmist says, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we
[should] rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
Amulek reminds us that “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God;
yea, behold the day of this life is the day for
men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32;
emphasis added). And a poet muses, “Forever—is composed of Nows.”1
Being always in the middle means that the game is never over,
hope is never lost, defeat is never final. For no matter where we are or what
our circumstances, an eternity of beginnings and an eternity of endings stretch
out before us.
We are always in the middle.
Teaching from This Message
Consider discussing with the family
how they are “always in the middle,” even if they are beginning or ending
something. Encourage them to do their best on their current activities, not
dwelling on the past or waiting for the next activity or project. You may want
to suggest they choose one thing they can do to implement this counsel and set
a date to achieve their goal.
Youth
In the Middle of Your Preparation
for a Mission
President Uchtdorf tells missionaries to think of themselves as
being in the middle of their missions. You can also apply this idea to your
mission preparation: whether you are 12 or 18, you can prepare to serve a
mission.
What are some things you can do “in the middle” of your mission
preparation?
·
Always be worthy to attend the temple.
·
Learn to recognize promptings from the Holy Ghost by
writing down your promptings and acting on them.
·
Pray for the missionaries.
·
Ask the missionaries in your area what they recommend you do to
prepare to serve a mission.
·
Learn to manage your time effectively, including important
activities such as service, scripture study, and journal writing.
·
When talking with a family
member, share a scripture that inspired you recently. Explain what you think
about the scripture.
·
Ask your friends about their religions and what they believe. Be
willing to share your beliefs. Invite them to church or activities.
As you recognize that you are in the middle of your mission
preparation, you can live your life to be more worthy of the Lord’s trust and
the Spirit’s companionship.
Children
Everyone Can Do Something Now
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1.
President Uchtdorf teaches that no matter your age, you can do
something to help others. In your journal or on a piece of paper, list your
gifts or abilities. Ask your parents what they think your gifts are.
2.
Decide how you could use your gifts to help others in the
situations below.
Illustrations
by Bryan Beach
3.
At the end of your list of gifts, write one way you can use those
gifts to help others this week.
Demonstrating Our Discipleship through Love and Service
Prayerfully
study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit.
Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief
Society an active part of your own life.
Demonstrating Our Discipleship
through Love and Service
Throughout His mortal life, Jesus Christ showed His love for
others by ministering to them. He said, “By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
He set the example and wants us to “succor those that stand in need of [our]
succor” (Mosiah
4:16). He calls His disciples to work with Him in His ministry, giving them
the opportunity to serve others and become more like Him.1
Our service as visiting
teachers will closely resemble the ministry of our Savior when we show our love
for those we visit teach by doing the following:2
·
Remember their names and the names of their family
members and become acquainted with them.
·
Love them without judging them.
·
Watch over them and strengthen their faith “one by one,” as the
Savior did (3
Nephi 11:15).
·
Establish sincere friendships with them and visit them in their
homes and elsewhere.
·
Care about each sister. Remember birthdays, graduations,
weddings, baptisms, or other times that are meaningful to her.
·
Reach out to new and less-active members.
·
Reach out to the lonely or those in need of comfort.
From the Scriptures
From Our History
“The New Testament includes accounts of women, named and
unnamed, who exercised faith in Jesus Christ.
… These women became exemplary disciples. … [They] journeyed with Jesus and His
Twelve Apostles. They gave of their substance to assist in His ministry. After
His death and Resurrection,
[they] continued to be faithful disciples.”3
Paul wrote of a woman named Phebe, who was “a servant of the
church” (Romans
16:1). He asked the people to “assist her in whatsoever business she hath
need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many” (Romans 16:2). “The
kind of service rendered by Phebe and other great women of the New Testament
continues today with members of the Relief Society—leaders, visiting teachers,
mothers, and others—who act as succorers, or helpers, of many.”4
What Can I Do?
1.
How am I increasing my ability to nurture others?
2.
What am I doing to ensure that the sisters I watch over know
that I love them?
“Life’s Journey”
cji
7/1/12
Having left so long
ago
whether minutes of
years
strangers to where
left
memories hard to
define
yet life’s journey is
lived
day by day by moments
wherein who we are to
be
where we are to be
found
and wherever we’re
bound;
Counting the
Pre-Existence
thus into mortal
probation
first nutured then
nuturer
not knowing the
endings
yet seeking what’s
eternal
yet life’s jouney is
lived
fully and always
complete
in betweens of
middles
having left so long
ago!
“Love’s Service”
cji
7/1/12
Without measure or
time
lengthening our
strides
hearing the still
promptings
gathering in the
homeless
clothing those in
need
feeding the hungry
all
as a disciple to
serve
giving to all in need
today
without judgment or
divine!
Copyright © 2012 – cji
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