(Yes, this could easily be a diatribe about the FOMLs complete inability to turn off a light switch, but it isn’t. Since it is the sabbath, I’ll try to offer something better… how about a little story?)
At this time of this experience I was serving as a Stake Missionary and Ward Mission Leader. (For those who don’t know, each stake used to have a Stake Mission President and Stake Missionaries to help the full-time missionaries with the work. That program was disbanded, and remanded to the ward level a few years back. The calling of Stake Missionary was greatly feared, and probably the most refused calling in the church – that and nursery.)
It had been a difficult day at work, and I was in a bad mood when I got in my car. I was already late. I had a 30 minute commute ahead of me, and had to get home, change clothes, and meet the Elders for a missionary lesson. Great. I was not in the mood, and the traffic was only making it worse.
As I got nearer to my home, I started realizing that I was not in a good frame of mind to go to a missionary lesson. I wasn’t feeling the Spirit coursing through my being. At all. So I looked at the clock and decided that I had about 20 minutes left to “flip the switch” and get in a better place spiritually, so that I could be of value at the lesson.
As soon as that concept went through my mind, the Spirit sent a much more important concept through my heart. He said:
“If you are having to flip the switch to ‘turn on’ your spirituality, when exactly did you turn it off?”
Ouch.
That is a tough question. Did I lose the Spirit at work? What chased him away? Contention? Weakness? Sin? For some reason the Spirit had chosen to leave me during the course of the day.
Or did I even have the Spirit with me when I began? Did I read my scriptures? Did I pray? Was I prepared to enter “Babylon” that day?
All tough questions.
Part of my responsibility as a priesthood holder, member of the Church, and father is to be ready.
Ready for what? When?
I dunno. Whatever comes. Whenever it comes. Since it is impossible to schedule or need for spirituality and priesthood power, there is really only one solution:
Don’t turn off the switch.
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What an interesting thought. Reminds me to monitor myself more carefully as I go through the day.
=)
Wow. Great experience – and thanks for sharing it. Good fodder for FHE tonight.
Chocolate: The Spirit probably left because of the hypocrisy – sounds like you need to join the Stake Choir.
Michemily: Great question. I’ll do a post about it and ask for ideas nest week.
Anon/M: Keeper of the flame is a great concept. I hope this blog isn’t perceived as merely ‘sugar’ – I try to add plenty of ‘meat’ to the diet. (?)
(Anon/M)It’s a life-sustaining concept, too. Because it gets scary and lonely being the “keeper of the flame”, when cold winds you didn’t expect are howling around you. Ooops, I forgot to stay light-hearted in this mainly humorous blog. Sorry.
I like the concept. I often think of feeling the Spirit as comparable to adjusting a hearing aid. Sometimes it can even be on too high and squeak. But when I really am trying to feel the Spirit and I feel like I’ve done everything to turn the switch on and it just isn’t happening, then what? I’m not sure . . .
I went to a seminary training meeting years ago where the speaker talked about inviting and offending the Spirit. Your on/off analogy reminded me of that. We don’t have to spend every minute of our day studying the scriptures and singing hymns, but we should spend a few minutes (preferably early in the morning!) to invite the Spirit into our day. Then as long as we do nothing to offend him, he’ll stay with us. I really like that concept and think of it often. Now I’ll think of it whenever I flip a light switch!
Kind of uncanny how appropriate that this is for the day that I’ve had today. I like the visual of the switch. Thanks for the post and the reminder and putting it so well.
Light switch -off. Spirit switch – on. Got it. Thanks! 🙂
Hmmm.. does it count if the choir at stake conference today sounded like they were drunk?
Yes? No?
My husband and I were discussing that on the way home. Was it the terrible singing or our laughing at the terrible singing that caused the Spirit to leave?
love.
Great reminder! I was feeling that way today about Sacrament meeting. Getting my crew ready is not an easy task. But now that I’m home, I’m so glad I went.
Sandy
So when my kids fess up to their dad, “yeah, we did this and this and then Mom totally flipped!”……. You’re saying that’s not a good thing? 🙂
Dang, this hit home today. My switch is flipped off today, and I shouldn’t have let it…
You must’ve written this just for me…
Great post.
That happened to me yesterday- hollering at the kids and being an ornery mother all morning, and then I flipped the switch on and had a nice afternoon preparing a RS lesson. Great analogy as usual.
Ahh the days when we had Stake Mission Presidents ! The humble stake missionary, my wife and I were stake missionary companions when we were first married 🙂 10 hours service a week (recorded)
As for the light switch I too have had the experience of realising that without knowing the switch was off!
maybe my light is on a dimmer today i don’t think its off just dulled by the screams of children
In this instance, we can always leave the switch on. Very good
I thought my switch was still on, but, alas, my lesson still fell flat today 🙁
Perfect post for the day! I hope I keep leaving the switch in the ON position, but sadly, know that sometimes, I get busy with life and flip it off without thinking. Great reminder!