That which we....

This week I have felt a little like Nemo "...first day of school!....first day of school!...first day of school...wake up...its time to go to school" Many teachers join with most kindergartners, and all mothers in celebrating the start for another school year. At the conclusion of this first week of school one of my favorite quotes has been at the forefront of my thoughts:

That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but our ability to perform it has improved.

That Emerson had something there...it is applicable for the students in my math classes...it applies to my kids...my parents...my friends...people in different countries...and myself. It is a universal truth. He does not say the good things we spend time practicing become easier...he simply says those things, good or bad, worthwhile or not so much, the things we spend our time doing will become easier for us.

I use that quote in class to try and stimulate my students that struggle to believe that with sufficient effort they can and will improve and in my eyes improvement, for many of these kids, equates to success. This year as I gave my little motivational diatribe I was struck by the quote and how it applies to me...and it was not pretty actually...I have been persisting in the wrong areas...in some cases have been allowing the good to crowd out the essential...in other cases very simply going against the counsel found in Isaiah 55:1-3 and 2 Nephi 9:51 spending time and labor for that which doth not satisfy. Well I have decided that I am going to change the direction of my persistence and be found doing better things more of the time and invite all to do the same.

The Apollo missions and me...

I remember once long ago attending a church service in an old movie theater in Ontario California. The preacher was energetic and charismatic. His message really struck home and has stuck in my mind for the past 20+ years. He related the untold story of the Apollo 11. It has been said that the first successful manned space mission to the moon was off course slightly more than 90% of the time. In spite of this disturbing fact the mission's goals were achieved...how?

Constant small adjustments are the answer. What proved to be the salvation for the mission and the men involved is the same course of action that will deliver us to our desired destination. This presupposes we have an firm idea of where we would like to be...our goals must be defined. As described in the enlightening story Alice in Wonderland:

Alice: Can you tell me which path I should take?
Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to go!
Alice: I don't really know.
Cheshire Cat: Then, clearly, any path will do!

I look at the course of my life and see many of these adjustments that have brought me back on course, and I realize that the future holds many more requisite corrections. I am grateful to loving parents that have instilled a vision of what my future could ultimately hold and especially to my Savior for the opportunity to make said corrections.

Emma and the monkey trap....

I am not totally sure what has motivated me to begin a blog. I suppose it has as much to do with boredom as anything. I do not feel my life is anything others would likely find interesting or exceptional, but here I am publishing for a select few, the quintessence of my innermost thoughts and observations...

So, Emma and the monkey trap...I was sitting in church today and was feeding my 1 year old daughter, Emma, teddy grahams from a small container. At her core my little girl is an Asay...those reading this will understand without further elucidation... and therefore wanted all of the teddy grahams in her hands. She achieved a close approximation and proceeded gorging herself. Soon bored with the mauling of the slobbery graham tasties, she wanted very badly to put her remaining treats back into the container...but she did not want to do this one at a time. The problem was that her fist would not fit into the opening while maintaining the grasp of all the teddies, but she would not allow me to hold her prizes enabling her to replace them one at a time, so she became frustrated.

I have read about humane monkey traps that work in a similar fashion, the researchers place a nut or other food item in a cage with openings big enough for the little primates to get their hands in but once the treat is grasped the hand can't be withdrawn unless the creature is willing to release it's hold...most weren't so that sat there and waited for whomever to come along and grab them.

I find this mildly disturbing and analogous to situations I have encountered in my life. As I look around I see many traps that would seemingly be easy to avoid...but baring that easily escaped from if people would just let go of the enticing treat that is responsible for entrapping them. Heck, I need only look in the mirror and all that it reflects to see my little mitts firmly adhered to nuts of one kind or another that are preventing me from reaching where I want to go...Lamoni's father had it right, upon hearing the Word through Aaron he uttered this profound key, "...I will give away all my sins to know thee..."(Alma 22:18) Sins are the treat and to be free all we must do is let them go...so easy in principle, and yet so difficult in practice.

I hope I can do a better job letting go of those things that are slowing my progression, and also help Emma and my other kids understand that in spite of what they see at family gatherings gluttonly is not requisite and can be overcome.