“If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?”
Ummmm… Probably not.
A simple line in a Primary song serves as a slap upside the head when self-evaluating. Luckily, the odds of Jesus hanging out with me are very, very slim, so the song doesn’t feel too immediately threatening.
I think we have all wondered how we would react if Jesus, or President Monson, were to stay at our house for a day or two, and what adjustments we would make.
Personally, I am afraid that with me, there would be a little too much “Martha,” and not enough “Mary.” I would be whispering to my kids to use good table manners, stop touching each other and turn off SpongeBob. I would probably be less of a slob around the house, and use gentler tones when speaking, etc. In other words, I would pretend to be somebody else.
Some things would be strange. If Jesus were at with us at the dinner table, the prayer would go from vain repetition to somewhat confusing. The conversation would either consist of a lot of empty pauses, or the normal constant barrage of chatter, where our guest couldn’t get a word in edge-wise.
I imagine our TV consumption would drop drastically, and some shows would remain safely ensconced on the DVR for later viewing.
The daily family scripture study would DEFINITELY occur, and I’m guessing that everyone would stay awake for the expert commentary.
So, it is safe to say, working through this Primary song exercise is very revealing – and kind of sad.
Thankfully, it is not too likely to happen, so it is not really much of an immediate worry.
However…this week we are getting a little taste of what it could be like. FOML3 returned home from his mission last weekend. He is glowing. He is happy, and spiritual, and kind. I feel like if the Savior stood beside him, he would be just fine.
We talk about missionaries coming home and getting back to “normal.” I gotta tell you, “normal” is overrated. It has been a joy watching how my son has grown, deepened and changed. His “abnormality” is beautiful. It is remarkable how walking with the Spirit in the Lord’s service can mold us. I hope he never fully arrives back to “normal.”
As I have been watching him trying to hold back the world this week, I am rooting for him. I am in no hurry for him to normalize. I like being around this new, improved version, because it is a better version, and because it rubs off on the rest of us.
My tone is better, my reactions tempered, our conversations are more uplifting, and I am more sensitive to what is on the TV or radio when he is around.
I find it tragic to see a returned missionary race to embrace the pre-mission “normality” that they left for two years.
President Kimball described what I feel way back in ’78 in a talk at BYU:.
“Let me confess one of the sad disappointments I sometimes feel: The returned missionary who, after two years of taking great pride in how he looks and what he represents, returns to this campus or some other similar place to see how quickly he can let his hair grow, how fully he can develop a mustache and long sideburns and push to the very margins of appropriate grooming, how clumpy his shoes get, how tattered his clothes are, how close to being grubby he can get without being refused admittance to the school. That, my young returned missionary brethren, is one of the great disappointments in my life.”.
Anyone who has had a missionary return home knows how sweet it is. It has been a wonderful week at so many levels. I am so proud of him that I can hardly express it.
I hope he can keep holding back the world, and not get sucked back in like so many do. Maybe if I focus on upping my game, it will help.
Maybe we all ought to really work at being a little more abnormal.
There is nothing magical about a mission other than they spend a lot of time reading scriptures, seeking for guidance of the spirit, praying, and serving others. They watch no TV or Movies and music is very limited. I would guess that if we embraced the same lifestyle we would get the same results.
Why is that so hard for us?
My favorite line was, “for later viewing.” Good food for thought.
Pathetic food for thought.
I meant the post overall, not your statement implying that you’d wait for Jesus to leave then watch your regular shows.
Sadly, the latter rings true.
It’s true for all of us. Technically, Jesus is standing beside us, in that he knows our thoughts and actions. Yet, we all fall short. That must be why we need the constant reminders of taking the sacrament, attending the temple, reading the scriptures and praying, general conference etc.
“‘Normal ‘ is overrated.” That’s the money quote here.
Welcome home to your son! How fun and exciting.
I too loved the extra Spirit our RM brought home with him in 2012. Looking forward to it again when our next one returns home this Christmas. I will admit though, there has been some discussion with our third son about what it will be like when he returns. {He’s leaving in less than 3 months}. We were so naive with our first, as to how strange and awkward walking back into “normal life” would be. We realized quickly how desensitized to some things our family had become while he was away. And then there was the material things as well. Tablets {i.e..i-pads, etc} did not even exist {that we knew of} before he left. When he returned, he saw one in everybody’s hand it seemed. {With quick access to more time consuming mindless things…….it seemed. ; ( } So yes….we will soak up the goodness when it comes and be better equipped to help slowly ease things back the way it SHOULD be. Meaning…Be in the world……just not of it. ; )
I know what you mean, but to a much lesser extent. Our stake has the wonderful opportunity of going to YW Camp at Heber Valley Camp each summer, and the Spirit there is tremendous. Every time I get home after a week of basking in that glow, the “normal” worldly things grate on me, and make me feel uncomfortable. It saddens me how quickly I adjust back into that “normal”. I wish I could hold onto that sacred feeling a little longer.
Aw, MMM, this was a fantastic post! No wonder you’ve been a little quiet on the blog front. It’s so neat to hear your perspective about having a newly returned missionary in your home. I really liked that you really don’t want him to get back to “normal” after two years of complete change. Of course we wouldn’t want our young men and young women coming home from missions just to go back to the way they were before 😉
Right On! We have a grandson in the mission home due to come home in a few weeks. The change in him has been remarkable. We get emails on how we ought to be keeping ‘this’ commandment and ‘that’ commandment. We have to smile. His brother who has also been on a mission commented not long ago, “I don’t even want to be with him for a few weeks – until he gets back to normal.” My comment was, “I hope he doesn’t get back to normal, but keeps the spirit with him so he can continue to hasten the work!” We can all help them keep that spirit – that’s what parents and grandparents are for. Thanks for a great post.
You’re right. Wing House is much better these days.
I remember that feeling last year when my first missionary returned home. He certainly raised us up. It was wonderful. And in two months, my second missionary will be home – I am so looking forward to soaking up the Spirit he’ll bring with him!! Seeing how much they mature & develop in the gospel is by far the best thing about sending them out on missions.
Beautiful.
My wife always used to pester me about eating at Hooters. She always went “Would you take Jesus there?” And my final response was “You offend me with that comment. You really think I’d take to the Savior of Mankind to a CHAIN restaurant?!?!?!. Maybe In-And-Out Burger if we were in a hurry, but NEVER!” End of discussion.
Hooters? Maybe you need that slap upside the head that I mentioned.
Listen to your wife.The environment you put yourself in influences your spirituality,and the temptations that come your way..
I’m so happy for you, and for him. Love on that boy! =) What a great experience for you all.
My missionary son returns home in a week and a half and I look forward to soaking up that spirit for as long as I can.
He had it before he left and it will be even more powerful when he returns. Can’t wait. Love your post!