For many years I've felt an urge, a longing to contribute something to this world. A contribution that would affect the orbit of the earth, or change the way mankind thinks, behaves, or functions. Something like Edison's light bulb, or Einsteins's theories on relativity.
Four years ago it seemed the way to make this contribution was through further education. Scientific research is both exciting and rewarding, and presents a great opportunity to make humanitarian contributions. This course has lead me to providing scholarly research for NASA related to fire suppression and mitigation, which might be considered a humanitarian contribution, or the giving back to society hope that I've wanted for many years.
Earlier today I was sitting in a room at Idaho State University in Pocatello among scientists and NASA scholars discussing these issues, and I felt strangely unsatisfied. This unsatisfactory feeling was irksome to me and I didn't know what to make of it.
Three hours later I got into my car for my journey home when the irksome feeling returned. Having some time to myself I spoke to God about my feelings. I explained my longing to make contributions to the world, am now in a position to do so, and yet I feel unsatisfied, and discontent. I asked Him to help me make sense of my feelings and left it at that.
A few minutes later I stopped at Costco to pick up a few things. On my way out, a box of books caught my eye and I instinctively and deliberately made my way to it. One book stood out to me; "Grimm's Fairy Tales". Without hesitation I almost forcefully put the book into my cart and checked out, not thinking much of the experience.
At 7:00 p.m. I told my kids to get their pajamas on, grab their favorite blanket, and come meet me in my room. All four of them snuggled up on my bed facing me as I began to read Grimm's fairy tales to them. I have never done this. It was FUN! They were quiet (for the most part) and listened intently. I had never felt such a bond with my children as I did for those thirty minutes together.
After they had all gone to bed, I sat quietly on my bed and reflected on what just took place. I realized how unusually satisfied I felt. Then the clear impression came to me that I had just made a grand orbit altering contribution to the world. Four sweet little souls connected with my own, and made a tender memory. The love among family members was strengthened. I knew at that moment that this was God's answer to my prayer a few hours earlier. The answer?... that there is no greater contribution I can make to the world than to create special experiences like this with my own family.
As David O. McKay once said, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” I'm sorry to admit that I've had more failures in my home than successes, but tonight - I was a successful parent and I plan on having more nights like it in the future, by changing the world one fairy tale at a time.
Four years ago it seemed the way to make this contribution was through further education. Scientific research is both exciting and rewarding, and presents a great opportunity to make humanitarian contributions. This course has lead me to providing scholarly research for NASA related to fire suppression and mitigation, which might be considered a humanitarian contribution, or the giving back to society hope that I've wanted for many years.
Earlier today I was sitting in a room at Idaho State University in Pocatello among scientists and NASA scholars discussing these issues, and I felt strangely unsatisfied. This unsatisfactory feeling was irksome to me and I didn't know what to make of it.
Three hours later I got into my car for my journey home when the irksome feeling returned. Having some time to myself I spoke to God about my feelings. I explained my longing to make contributions to the world, am now in a position to do so, and yet I feel unsatisfied, and discontent. I asked Him to help me make sense of my feelings and left it at that.
A few minutes later I stopped at Costco to pick up a few things. On my way out, a box of books caught my eye and I instinctively and deliberately made my way to it. One book stood out to me; "Grimm's Fairy Tales". Without hesitation I almost forcefully put the book into my cart and checked out, not thinking much of the experience.
After they had all gone to bed, I sat quietly on my bed and reflected on what just took place. I realized how unusually satisfied I felt. Then the clear impression came to me that I had just made a grand orbit altering contribution to the world. Four sweet little souls connected with my own, and made a tender memory. The love among family members was strengthened. I knew at that moment that this was God's answer to my prayer a few hours earlier. The answer?... that there is no greater contribution I can make to the world than to create special experiences like this with my own family.
As David O. McKay once said, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” I'm sorry to admit that I've had more failures in my home than successes, but tonight - I was a successful parent and I plan on having more nights like it in the future, by changing the world one fairy tale at a time.
Great insight. When you have moments like these with your spouse or children you realize that despite the fact that you live in a house together doesn't necessarily mean you are having meaningful interactions. I had a date last night with a six year old who basically asked me to take her. While we were out I realized that she just needed someone to make her feel special for a little while. Keep up the god work.
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