Image
The last few weeks at work have been interesting. As many of you may know we have gone through some changes in local management. Because of these changes, I have a new supervisor. He is an incredible individual. I have worked with him over the past 12 years in many different areas and functions. The more I learn about him, the more he impresses me. He is incredibly knowledgeable. He is a wealth of information in many subjects and areas. I look up to him and aspire to have his sense of well roundedness. I don't know if that makes sense, but let's leave it that I look up to him.
Anyway, he has now entered our department. Yesterday, he commented to me about how he feels a little inferior to me. He has been coming to me with several questions and sought advice in different areas. His wife has suggested that he start dressing like me because I present myself in a professional manner. He has had a hard time with that. I guess I should explain that a little bit. He is a dead head. One of his all time great heroes is Jerry Garcia. Typically he wears a t-shirt, jeans, and sandals to work. He is extremely laid back. His theory is that life will work itself out, no matter what the situation. He like to get up in the morning around 9 or 10, read the paper with a nice cup of herbal tea, and roll in to work around 11 or 12. Today, he pointed out that he was wearing slacks and nice dress sweater. He looked very professional. It is completely out of the norm for him. Yet he feels that he needs to do so to keep up with me. I don't understand that. Why would he compare himself to me? He is considered my superior.
I have spent a great deal of time thinking about that. I guess I have decided that we are all guilty of such feelings. Sometimes they are good and sometimes they are bad. If we have these feelings and they inspire us to be better, then that is good. However, if we have these feelings and then decide that we can never be like that, give up on life, and digress, then that is bad.
I was listening to several of the conference talks from last April. I heard several of the apostles comment on how when they entered the ranks of that quorum, they felt inferior to the men around them and often times still do. They commented on how being with them reminded them of their many weaknesses. I am thinking, how could they have weaknesses? I feel inferior to them. Then I realized that they are just like me. They are going through this experience we call life, just like I am. Each of us are different. We all have different challenges and obstacles to overcome in this life. The key word there is Overcome. As I have thought about it, I have learned that when we have these feelings, how we deal with them is the important thing. If we start putting ourselves down and loosing sight of our potential as royal children of God, then yes, we have failed. I do not believe any of these great men do that. Instead, they look at those traits they admire in their fellow quorum members and set goals for themselves to be better. Doing that does not make it any easier, but it gives them something positive to work on. They are moving forward. That is all that is expected of us. We just continue moving forward, looking to Eternal glory.
When Lehi saw many people partaking of the fruit and then falling away because of the of the mocking of those in the great and spacious building, they were doing two things. First, they were listening to them. That is want Satan wants us to do, listen to him. Second, they started comparing themselves to those around them and instead of believing in themselves and their potential, they were believing the words of mockery and feeling that they could never be as good as, equal to, or anywhere equal to those around them. They were comparing themselves to those they had just walked with. Those who had been holding to the iron rod with them. Those who were just like them, overcoming the challenges of life. Their mistake was listening to Satan's mockery.
Please, use your agency to better yourselves, not to degrade yourselves. You are children of God. His sons and daughters. I have been given the privilege of being able to call you mine as well. I, like your Father in Heaven, see your potential and ability. I pray that you will see it as well.
Love You,
Dad
Anyway, he has now entered our department. Yesterday, he commented to me about how he feels a little inferior to me. He has been coming to me with several questions and sought advice in different areas. His wife has suggested that he start dressing like me because I present myself in a professional manner. He has had a hard time with that. I guess I should explain that a little bit. He is a dead head. One of his all time great heroes is Jerry Garcia. Typically he wears a t-shirt, jeans, and sandals to work. He is extremely laid back. His theory is that life will work itself out, no matter what the situation. He like to get up in the morning around 9 or 10, read the paper with a nice cup of herbal tea, and roll in to work around 11 or 12. Today, he pointed out that he was wearing slacks and nice dress sweater. He looked very professional. It is completely out of the norm for him. Yet he feels that he needs to do so to keep up with me. I don't understand that. Why would he compare himself to me? He is considered my superior.
I have spent a great deal of time thinking about that. I guess I have decided that we are all guilty of such feelings. Sometimes they are good and sometimes they are bad. If we have these feelings and they inspire us to be better, then that is good. However, if we have these feelings and then decide that we can never be like that, give up on life, and digress, then that is bad.
I was listening to several of the conference talks from last April. I heard several of the apostles comment on how when they entered the ranks of that quorum, they felt inferior to the men around them and often times still do. They commented on how being with them reminded them of their many weaknesses. I am thinking, how could they have weaknesses? I feel inferior to them. Then I realized that they are just like me. They are going through this experience we call life, just like I am. Each of us are different. We all have different challenges and obstacles to overcome in this life. The key word there is Overcome. As I have thought about it, I have learned that when we have these feelings, how we deal with them is the important thing. If we start putting ourselves down and loosing sight of our potential as royal children of God, then yes, we have failed. I do not believe any of these great men do that. Instead, they look at those traits they admire in their fellow quorum members and set goals for themselves to be better. Doing that does not make it any easier, but it gives them something positive to work on. They are moving forward. That is all that is expected of us. We just continue moving forward, looking to Eternal glory.
When Lehi saw many people partaking of the fruit and then falling away because of the of the mocking of those in the great and spacious building, they were doing two things. First, they were listening to them. That is want Satan wants us to do, listen to him. Second, they started comparing themselves to those around them and instead of believing in themselves and their potential, they were believing the words of mockery and feeling that they could never be as good as, equal to, or anywhere equal to those around them. They were comparing themselves to those they had just walked with. Those who had been holding to the iron rod with them. Those who were just like them, overcoming the challenges of life. Their mistake was listening to Satan's mockery.
Please, use your agency to better yourselves, not to degrade yourselves. You are children of God. His sons and daughters. I have been given the privilege of being able to call you mine as well. I, like your Father in Heaven, see your potential and ability. I pray that you will see it as well.
Love You,
Dad
Comments