Tuesday, January 18, 2011

"You realize the sun doesn't go down, it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round."

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been recording the miracles I see in my life every day.  And I feel silly writing most of the things I do.  I feel like they aren't really miracles.  They are good things, blessings even, for obedience, or answers to prayers, but they are nothing earth shattering or life altering or impressive in any other way.
I keep hoping that I'll start to see big things in my life, and I'm sure that I will.  But then I also wonder, what is the definition of a miracle?  Who is to say that these little things I notice aren't miracles?  These are ways that I notice where my own natural abilities are exceeded.  I've felt patience and love towards those I used to not like; I've had physical strength and balance to perform all of my work; I've learned more than I thought possible about subjects; I am learning to love more than I've loved before.  Are these not answers to prayers, to my personal needs, as a result of my faith in the Savior to help me?  Is this not the definition of a miracle?
They may seem small, but they are what I need, now, at this time in my life.  They may seem silly to the outsider's eye, but they are the way that my Heavenly Father is showing His love for me, and that my Savior is showing His ability to strengthen me.  Maybe one day I will experience something more noteworthy.  But if not, I am satisfied with the miracles that I have seen.

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death"

So, my question today is how do I make time for everything that I have to do?  There is so much that I need to do everyday, how can I possibly get it all done?  There's work-two jobs actually, homework, class, scripture study, calling work, family, friends, exercise, cleaning, personal hygiene, journal writing, missionary work-there just isn't a way for me to do it all.  Right now I feel like a poorly painted watercolor version of my normally rich and vibrant self.
I keep hoping things will change, but they haven't yet.  And I don't mean I've just been sitting around saying "I wish..." or "Someday..." but I've actually been actively trying to change my life.  I've trimmed almost all of the fat off my budget and my schedule.  I just don't understand what I'm supposed to learn from exhausting myself.  Sometimes I wonder if I made a wrong decision somewhere; but every decision I made I prayed and pondered over.  So I know I have to be in the right place.  I just feel so stretched and overwhelmed, like "butter over too much bread," as Bilbo Baggins once said.
But maybe it's like Elder Bednar taught:  each day, each good thing we do, like scripture study or fhe, is a brushstroke on a canvas of our lives.  And up close, those brushstrokes don't look like very much; but when you step back and look at the big picture, you see the amazing painting you've created.  So each thing that I do, every day-every homework assignment, scripture study, prayer, workout, hour at work or class-each of these things is a brushstroke on the canvas of my life.  And one day, when my life has progressed beyond this world, I will be able to look back and see the masterpiece I created.