Have you ever been laying in bed after an exhausting day and you are so comfortable and so tired that there is no place you would rather be then where you are at that very moment. Then you hear it…something like water dripping in the next room or the ticking of a clock (B has one that ticks out every second) and the more you try to ignore the constant noise the louder and more pervasive the noise seems to get until it feels like it is booming in your ears. Well, this has been happening to me a lot lately, although mine has been a very insistent but light knocking. I’ve tried to ignore it. I’ve rolled over and pulled the pillow over my ears. I’ve even shouted out in frustration that “I’m tired and I’m comfortable and don’t want to get up” but there it is…..tap tap tap……knock, knock, knock…BANG BANG BANG. At last I claw my way up from my resting spot…and I’ll admit…a little more than upset that my rest has been interrupted only to realize the knocking is coming from within me. Finally I stop to listen and hear that calm clear voice say to me “Daniel, it’s time to wake up. You have rested long enough in the comfort of the status quo. It is time that you stretch those muscles and grow….” At this I am known to grown and try and stumble back to bed but now I can’t ignore the voice “…it won’t be easy but you are missing out on what the Lord has in store for you. You are missing the real you and doesn’t B and Sophie deserve the real you over this shadow of a man that you have become.” WOW that hurts…but the truth does hurt at times. So with this in mind I have decided that I need to get up and start setting goals for myself to accomplish in the year 2012. I’m not going to call them resolutions because I think that connotes a sense of unimportance or that I can break them a week after I set them…for that reason they are my goals.
Goal #1
Read the Book of Mormon
It seems like forever since I have read the Book of Mormon cover to cover and realize that perhaps this is why my spirit tends be asleep at the wheel. I not only want to just read the Book of Mormon but try to see what the Lord has to say to me directly from those pages. I have heard it said that you talk to the Lord through prayer and he answers through the scriptures. This leads me to my second goal.
Goal #2
Study Patience and work to obtain it
One area in my life that for better or worse I tend to lack is patience; patience in others, patience that the Lord is in control and that I’m following his timeline, patience in myself that I can overcome my weaknesses and trials. I want to take on the challenge (dare I utter this out loud for the Lord to hear and try my patience as a lesson) to learn more about this attribute, trough scriptures, talks etc. and work on showing more patience in every aspect of my life.
Goal #3
Hold FHE
This is something that B has strived to do from day one in our marriage but I have resisted. I’ve resisted for many reasons…none of them good…but have come to realize that as the Priesthood holder in my house I need to be the one to takes the lead on this and makes sure that we have this stability in our family from the start. After all there is nothing worse than having your wife remind you (in a kind way) when you are fulfilling your duty.
Goal #4
Take Time to be Creative
I feel like I have been so blessed by the Lord in so many ways creatively from writing, to art, to landscaping and beyond. My goal this year is to take the time to build on the gifts that I have been given. This can be anything from doing more art projects for me or others to taking the time to do plans for other people’s yards….heaven knows I have enough people asking me to do it. I also want to learn to sew this year and B has told me she will teach me. I would love to be able to make a quilt for myself just for the accomplishment of doing it.
Goal #5
Write my Story
I have always had the best intentions to write my story for myself and my posterity but then when my posterity, Sophie, came along all those best intentions went out the window with the daily grind of meeting her needs. This being said, I still have the desire to share my story with those I love so that the Lord’s actions on my behalf aren’t forgotten or noticed.
Five goals…all of which have a particular meaning to me and all of which won’t be easy to accomplish but will be fulfilling in the end. Here is to 2012!
(*****After writing this entry I got a call from the Stake President calling me (and Anna) to be the 2nd Councilor in our new Ward Bishopric. Maybe that is what all the knocking was about…all I know is I’m terrified, I’m humbled and hoping that the Lord won’t abandon me as I try and do my best to fulfill this calling. All my goals take on such a greater meaning with this in mind.*****)
