10 Miles Around the Lake

We live in a community with a 350-acre lake. And we live on the main road that circles around the lake. If you pull out of our driveway and remain on the same road, you will eventually circle back to our home - 10 miles later (follow the blue line).

After completing a huge milestone in my professional career 6 weeks ago, I made the resolution to create a more healthy lifestyle for me. That meant altering my diet (which I have actually thoroughly enjoyed) and being more active. One of my goals was to walk/jog the 10 miles around the lake on July 4.  I've been doing 4-6 miles the past few weeks. The beauty of going 3 miles one way is that you have to go another 3 miles to get back home.  It would be too easy for me to quit if I were on a treadmill.

This Saturday I was going to do increase my distance to 8 miles. But in my mind, if I'm already going 4 miles one way...and the half-way point is 5 miles...why not just keep going straight rather than turn around?  (Plus, the hills during the first 2 miles are KILLER and I really didn't want to do them again.)

So I put this on (which was absolutely perfect, by the way):

And I placed my MP3 player in the pocket as well as my cell phone (to track my time...and also call Karen if I couldn't pull it off) and set off at 7AM this morning.

Two hours and 13 minutes later I staggered up the driveway.  It was crazy...SO not fun...and I don't think I'll ever do it again!  Now, I did enjoy the scenery.  I did enjoy the feeling of accomplishing a difficult task.  But long distance is just not for me.

I felt light-headed, knew I would faint at any moment, and was queasy. I circled around the interior of our home several times, ate an apple and a cheese stick, and drank some Gatorade and lots of water. I stretched and did some jumping jacks and felt really good within 30 minutes.  But why people do this for "fun" I'll never know.  I had a goal...reached the goal...and will move on.

4-6 miles a day is perfect for me.  It's an ideal workout for me and I enjoy that distance.

But, I did learn something doing the 10 miles this morning.  What happened to me afterwards caused me to reflect on my spiritual health the past few years.

For years, I have served and given without replenishing my own oil.  That was especially evident while I was serving in the bishopric.  I read the scriptures because I was preparing a talk, or a lesson, or a spiritual thought.  But I didn't study them for myself.  I prayed all the time (quite literally)...but it wasn't until recently that I began having regular personal prayers again.  It was as if I was using all of my reserves...draining my spiritual strength and never restoring what I was happy to provide for others.

When I got back from the 10-mile expedition, I did more stretching than I had done before I left. I consumed a ton of carbs and a little protein because I knew my body needed that to restore its strength.

My spiritual life over the past several years could be compared to me jogging 10 miles without doing the stretching afterwards and not eating what my physical body so desperately needed when I returned.  The Gatorade I drank during my jog could be compared to the blessings received when providing service to others.  Those blessings sustained me and kept me going to finish the assignment.  But those blessings don't replenish the "nutrients" expended over time.

Daily personal scripture study, multiple personal daily prayers, and renewing our covenants at church and at the temple are the "nutrients" and "stretching" our spirits need on a regular basis.  But it's so easy to neglect the scriptures and prayer...for me, at least.

Before serving in any capacity, we certainly need to "stretch" adequately to perform the task.  That stretching may be physical preparation, prayerful preparation, studying multiple scripture references and various manuals, etc.  But I believe the "stretching" we do afterward is more important.  We cannot continuously and effectively serve others without nourishing our own spirits.  We may for a season.  But it's not possible long-term.

The continuous "stretching" afterwards replenishes our spirits and conditions us to do even more for the Lord in the future.  Part of my resolution to a more healthy lifestyle is to ensure that the oil in my lamp is always full.

Is It Greater to Give or Receive?

Those who know me well know how prideful I can be. And if you think it's bad, you have no idea how bad it gets in my head. :) At least I have the self-awareness to admit it. And I know it's something I need to continually work on.

I'm a perfectionist, too. And that can get in the way of being led by the Spirit. It can get in the way of repenting. It can get in the way of understanding a lot about the Gospel. But the perfectionist in me also deep-dives into an idea and concept until I more fully understand it. That's what prompted this posting.

Following the Last Supper of the Savior with the Twelve, we read in John 13 that Jesus "riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded."

"Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean..."

The Savior goes on to teach the importance of service. And during our Sunday school lesson today, the teacher asked me to comment on a section of scriptures we had read. The perfectionist in me did not like my poorly constructed response. That's one reason I'm grateful for blogs. I rarely think quickly on my feet. So this is what I wanted to say:

Humility goes two ways.

Serving others is a commandment. Serve as we have seen Christ serve. Love as we have seen the Savior love. Take care of the needy. Visit the sick. Pray for those who hate you. The list goes on and on. Serving others requires a certain level of humility. Ironically, the selfish part of me enjoys giving service. It feels good. I hope it washes away a few of my many sins. Regardless of what the desired outcome may be, giving service is a commandment.

Receiving service, although not a commandment, is equally critical for our eternal salvation. It can't be a commandment because that would deny our agency. God can't say, "Accept me as your God." He can't say, "Be grateful for everything I have done for you." He can't say, "You must let me do this for you." Receiving service may require even more humility than giving service. Because it's something for which we cannot do for ourselves. And we have to accept that. And not let our pride get in the way.

The King of Kings washed the feet of the Twelve - those who were closest to him in this mortal life...even though he knew one of them would soon betray him. It was an act of deepest humility. And it represented the Atonement which He would soon complete.

The Atonement is an act for which we cannot do ourselves. And it is complete and sufficient. Our greatest challenge is to accept that Atonement...to receive it. We cannot set the conditions; we cannot alter the gift. And in order to do that, we must humble ourselves. With more humility than I have ever imagined. And a level of humility I have yet to achieve.

Perhaps that is why giving service is so important...it's a stepping stone to receiving service.

Hurricane Season Likened Unto the Second Coming

It really is true: All things testify of Christ...even insurance.

The concept of property insurance has been around for thousands of years dating back to the Babylonians and Chinese. Health and life insurance concepts began with the Greeks and Romans. I work for a Fortune 500 insurance company (#34...but who's counting). I recently completed my professional underwriting designation. I eat, breath, and bleed insurance for a good portion of my life each day. And yet, sometimes, I question the need/value of insurance. I fully understand the economic and social values of insurance. I understand its history and purpose. But life insurance for a child? Or laws mandating the purchase of insurance (not just the new health care reform...but auto as well)? Sometimes I question the moral aspects of insurance. (But I'm getting off topic.)

Underwriting departments do their best to avoid adverse selection. The premise is that those who need insurance most are the ones with the greatest demand. Because of this, insurers do their best to provide the lowest risk customers with the best premium and the highest risk customers with a higher premium. If your book deteriorates and you begin charging clean drivers, for example, with higher premiums, they'll leave. To remain solvent in that scenario, actuaries may increase premiums...causing the remaining best customers to leave. It can easily become a death spiral resulting in the worst case scenario that a company is left with the highest risk customers but is unable to charge a high enough premium for the risk. I'll tie this concept into my analogy in a little bit.

Personal insurance may seem like a burden. You may never need it. Despite the peace of mind insurance provides, it could be perceived as a financial loss if you never experience a significant claim (which most of us don't).

But if you work in a claims department, you clearly see the value of insurance each and every day. You follow through on the promise made when the policy was written. You help people recover and get back on their feet. You indemnify them (return them to the condition they were in prior to the loss).

Hurricane season officially began June 1st. If you live on the coast, home insurance is expensive. So expensive that some people choose not to purchase it (if there is no mortgage on the property). Flood insurance is even more expensive. And few people buy it. Then, when a hurricane hits, the non-insured and under-insured find a "good" lawyer (and premiums go up for everyone...again, getting off topic).

As we do the beginning of every June, our Company sent out a memo to all associates and agents regarding binding authority restrictions during hurricane season. If a tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning is announced, new home insurance cannot be written, deductibles cannot change, coverage cannot be added. Once a watch or warning is issued, insurance can no longer be purchased. The time to prepare is over.

As with most analogies, not all details/comparisons apply. But here are a few for consideration:

1) Like purchasing insurance, preparation for the Second Coming may seem like a burden.

2) Unlike insurance, you WILL eventually need that preparation.

3) In contrast to insurer's goals to avoid adverse selection, the Savior welcomes adverse selection and provides us all an equal "price."

4) There is a 100% chance of a "claim" to be filed.

5) There will never be a "financial loss" for time spent practicing the Gospel and preparing ourselves and our families.

6) The "watch" and "warning" has already been announced, however...

7) Until the Second Coming actually occurs, there is still time to practice and prepare.

8) But there will come a point when our preparatory state is over. And we will account for how we have spent our time and our talents.

9) When that "hurricane" reaches shore, our homes and our lives must be secured and on firm foundation.

10) I'm glad I have Jesus as my "claims adjuster." Because even with the best preparation, my home (aka family) and my life will need more ___ (fill in the blank) than I am able to do on my own. And He will do much more than simply indemnify us.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:1-10)

Be prepared this hurricane season.