Right Place - Right Time

One of my favorite lessons from the scriptures is that I want to be an instrument in the Lord's hands.


Sometimes that brings visions of grandeur.  Wanting to give every homeless person a warm, comfortable place to sleep.  Wanting to fill every hungry child's belly.  Wanting to save the world.


To be His instrument in these specific cases would require monumental resources that I just don't have.  Mother Teresa had it right when she said, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."


True enough.


I need to remind myself that sometimes the Lord doesn't need a backhoe, but a small digging tool.  He doesn't always require me to be a wood chipper, but rather a small hatchet.  He hasn't yet asked me to be the Sun, but He has asked me to be a sunbeam and to let my light shine.


Twice within the past 24 hours, He has asked me to help out in very small and simple ways.  Last night, the missionaries were trying to visit someone upstairs who wasn't home.  One of the elders needed to use a bathroom, and couldn't wait until he got back to his apartment.  I overheard him telling this to his companion so I invited them in.  He was very grateful, and relieved.


This morning, I happened to be outside when I saw a poor old gentleman digging through the Dumpster looking for aluminum cans.  I gave him two bags that I had collected from drinking soda at home.  There were almost tears in his eyes as he gently took them and said, "Gracias, papa".


Did I save the world?  No.  Did I help someone in a very small and simple way that helped move them forward?  Yes.


It's good to know I can make a difference in someone's day just by being in the right place at the right time.




Bro. H.  

Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut

Recently, I've been struggling with some advice a priesthood leader gave me.  I won't go into details here, because first and foremost, I take seriously the sustaining vote I gave him, and still give him.


I think we all struggle, from time to tine, with the well-meant advice others give to us.  Maybe it's just because of my exposure to the LDS culture, but maybe it goes beyond us Mormons.  The advice I want to discuss in this post has been given to me and to others I know.  Depending on how it's given, who it's given to, and where we are in life when we receive it, this advice can be either very helpful or very damaging.


I'm talking about those times when we feel down, depressed or have other mental or emotional issues that are very real and affect our lives in extremely profound ways.

And the advice?


"Get out and serve others."


Now, I heartily believe that service is critical to us as individuals, us as a people and us as the human race.  Selfless service to others does indeed help the server feel blessed and helps the served receive blessings of accepting service.


However, when one is clinically depressed or has a chemical imbalance or is at the point mentally, emotionally and physically where they need professional help, this advice can sound trite and trivial.  It compounds both our illness and our feelings of guilt.


Again, there is nothing wrong with service - or with the injunction to serve others as we have the means and can actually do some good.


But, if we don't have the means (and that means both financially, time-wise and mentally), then what?


I think we can take a lesson from the great King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon.  He told us we should give freely of our resources to the poor.  But, he also followed that up with the caution that we do not give beyond our means.  He said if we cannot give, we should say within our hearts that we would give if we could.


The same goes with service.


How often have I been guilty of saying or even thinking that if they (whoever is suffering) would just get up and out and serve, they would be fine?


Would I say that to someone who is having a heart attack?  Would I say it to someone who has a compound fracture?  NO!  So why in the world would I say it to someone who has an infirmity that is every bit as real and physical as someone needing CPR or a splint?


Exactly.  Sounds dumb, right?


So, starting today, I'm going to try to really think before I speak.  And I will pray for us all to serve when we can - when we honestly have the means, and let God be the judge of me when I cannot.


Have a beautiful Monday!




Brother H.

The Blessings Continue

Photo ©2011, James Hofheins. All Rights Reserved

Today has been a very busy day.  Now, what I'm about to say, I want you to know I say without boasting.  I cannot boast of tender mercies the Lord provides me.  As King Benjamin said in the famous "seminary scripture", Mosiah 2:17, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

Being in the service of the Master is an honor, and He has provided me some opportunities to serve today.

As you may know, I was privileged to be a part of the "Find Susan" social media blitz just over a year ago.  I was part of a well-organized team of folks (the friends and family of Susan Cox Powell) who put together and executed a plan to get the word out about her disappearance.  We still have not found her, but we have not given up, either.

This afternoon, I received an email from someone who is involved in finding another missing person.  Because I don't have authority to publicly talk about it, I can't identify the case right now, but she asked for advice on how to do a social media blitz to help find the missing person.  That she asked me for advice and help is truly an honor.

I was really surprised when she asked how much I charge for doing so.  I had not thought about and would not think about charging to help an agonizing family find their loved one.

I don't know where they go from here, but I hope the information I was able to provide is helpful, and of course, I am willing to continue to help.

I have also been involved in helping a start-up with some brand management through social media.  This has also kept me pretty busy today.  I'm really grateful that the Lord allows me to share what I can to help others with anything I may know something about.  And who knows?  Perhaps it will turn into something full time where I can help a paying company or cause in the future?

Finally, and I hesitate to mention this because it could appear as boasting, I was honored to help a long-distance friend, and in the process, help myself.  She recently lost a dear friend of hers and wanted to talk about it.  I think she helped me more, however, because the death of her friend and the death of my brother Mark five years ago, had some uncanny similarities.  In talking to her about my brother's death, it lifted me somehow.  It brought back some really good memories of Mark.  It left me feeling lighter and closer to both my friend and my brother.  I hope that anything I told her has helped lift her burden.

I know it lifted mine.

Brother H.