Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Power to Change the World
Although heroes often have 'greatness thrust upon them' some of us seek for it because we want to do something important in the world. Ah, but what? Renewable energy is already a current project for the entire world. Eliminating hunger...removing disease...world peace.... Even the big 3 (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) haven't achieved these yet. But remember one of the first things Superman did in Metropolis? He rescued a cat out of a tree. Doesn't seem like the stuff of heroes and legends. In fact, it's only about a 2 minute clip in the movie. Doesn't even get as much air time as Lex Luther's secretary swimming in her pool (as if THAT'S important).
There is a scripture that says 'by small and simple means are great things brought to pass.' Don't believe me? Well, let's look at an example from moviedom. Remember LOTR? The whole thing, not just the first one. We all know Frodo is going to be a hero of sorts, he has the ring. And Arragorn--obvious. As are Legolas and Gimli and even Sam. But what about the 'plucky comic reliefs' found in Merry and Pip? They spend a lot of time being funny and not really getting it (remember the tomato scene at Weathertop?). And yet, how often does the humor lift the hearts of those who are unable to lift their own? Or how each of them says something which inspires others to take up the fight against darkness and shadow. The Ents go to war my friend. Even Pip is noble and loyal and brave where it matters. Heroic deeds can sometimes be as small as lighting one tiny fire or looking for a friend who is lost after a battle.
Recently, I had this brought back to me in a very touching way. While at the Missionary Training Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I met another sister whom I had known at BYU in the Tree Streets. She was going to a European mission and I was headed for NYC. I bumped into her right before I left, and then I wrote her a letter. I may have seen her one other time, but I don't recall. In fact, I didn't recall this incident at all until yesterday. You see, she wrote me all these years later, to talk to me about it. And I'll be honest, it really touched my heart. Her thank you meant the world. And it meant a lot to know that one letter mattered. I had no idea that one letter would make a difference like that; it certainly wasn't my intention when I wrote it. I just wrote it because I wanted to tell her some things. And I bet she had no idea that when she wrote that thank you, it was exactly when I needed to hear it. Over the course of my life, I have found an accumulation of evidence which leads me to know that Heavenly Father is incredibly aware of us and what we need in our life. And that He send the Holy Ghost to prompt us, to touch our minds and hearts to reach out to others in small ways which touch deep into our core and lift us in those moments when we cannot lift ourselves. We are not alone. And the God who is aware of a sparrow, is aware of us. Never be afraid to do something kind, whether in the moment, or in a moment of reflection. No truly good deed is in vain.
Did that girl ever write Superman? I don't know. I'd like to think she did. And I'd like to think that on a hard day, he pulled that letter out--that 'thank you' from one small girl. That 'thank you' meant more to him than any Daily Planet kudos or letter from the Mayor or day named in his honor. Because that one, that letter with the kitty paw print in the corner, came straight from the heart about something that mattered in her life and in her cat's. It isn't the big things, it's the little things done because we mean them. Do a good turn daily isn't just for scouts. It's for heroes and heroes in training and sidekicks too!
Thanks to this sister, who felt inspired to send a thank you out into the universe. And thank you Superman, for getting the cat out of the tree.
There is a scripture that says 'by small and simple means are great things brought to pass.' Don't believe me? Well, let's look at an example from moviedom. Remember LOTR? The whole thing, not just the first one. We all know Frodo is going to be a hero of sorts, he has the ring. And Arragorn--obvious. As are Legolas and Gimli and even Sam. But what about the 'plucky comic reliefs' found in Merry and Pip? They spend a lot of time being funny and not really getting it (remember the tomato scene at Weathertop?). And yet, how often does the humor lift the hearts of those who are unable to lift their own? Or how each of them says something which inspires others to take up the fight against darkness and shadow. The Ents go to war my friend. Even Pip is noble and loyal and brave where it matters. Heroic deeds can sometimes be as small as lighting one tiny fire or looking for a friend who is lost after a battle.
Recently, I had this brought back to me in a very touching way. While at the Missionary Training Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I met another sister whom I had known at BYU in the Tree Streets. She was going to a European mission and I was headed for NYC. I bumped into her right before I left, and then I wrote her a letter. I may have seen her one other time, but I don't recall. In fact, I didn't recall this incident at all until yesterday. You see, she wrote me all these years later, to talk to me about it. And I'll be honest, it really touched my heart. Her thank you meant the world. And it meant a lot to know that one letter mattered. I had no idea that one letter would make a difference like that; it certainly wasn't my intention when I wrote it. I just wrote it because I wanted to tell her some things. And I bet she had no idea that when she wrote that thank you, it was exactly when I needed to hear it. Over the course of my life, I have found an accumulation of evidence which leads me to know that Heavenly Father is incredibly aware of us and what we need in our life. And that He send the Holy Ghost to prompt us, to touch our minds and hearts to reach out to others in small ways which touch deep into our core and lift us in those moments when we cannot lift ourselves. We are not alone. And the God who is aware of a sparrow, is aware of us. Never be afraid to do something kind, whether in the moment, or in a moment of reflection. No truly good deed is in vain.
Did that girl ever write Superman? I don't know. I'd like to think she did. And I'd like to think that on a hard day, he pulled that letter out--that 'thank you' from one small girl. That 'thank you' meant more to him than any Daily Planet kudos or letter from the Mayor or day named in his honor. Because that one, that letter with the kitty paw print in the corner, came straight from the heart about something that mattered in her life and in her cat's. It isn't the big things, it's the little things done because we mean them. Do a good turn daily isn't just for scouts. It's for heroes and heroes in training and sidekicks too!
Thanks to this sister, who felt inspired to send a thank you out into the universe. And thank you Superman, for getting the cat out of the tree.
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