A few Zone Conferences ago, President Hsu told us a story which I will now attempt to recount. He included many details which I have forgotten, so I'll have to be a bit general in the interests of accuracy.
Years ago in a European country, a church leader asked all the young men within a certain age group to send him their running shoes. The first three whose shoes he received were the first to be called to serve missions. They had demonstrated their willingness to obey the Lord (and his chosen servants), even when they didn't know the purpose of the instruction.
The other day during personal study, it occurred to my heart that I should begin writing my weekly email for my family only (i.e. not to be shared via blog). I don't know why, although I expect the instruction has some value for its own sake (unlike the sending of the running shoes, which probably weren't of much use to the man who received them). When it comes to things like this, I'm working on being more trusting--I mean, willing to act before I understand. Even if I sometimes misinterpret my feelings, by doing my best to follow the Spirit, at the very least I develop and demonstrate willingness and desire to receive and obey guidance.
I hope the things I've invited Mom and Dad to share have been informative, useful, or inspiring to someone outside of my immediate family. I'm sure over a year of weekly insights from me is probably more than enough for most people anyway. And anything else I could write in the next six months could not possibly be more valuable than the message that striving to follow the Holy Ghost is the only way to get done what we're here to do.
