For everybody, everyhwere and at anytime...

Last Friday I got to go to a few classes of BYU's Education Week. I loved the 3 speakers that I got to listen to but there was one that I really loved. It was by Brother Bartholomew (who I had for Book of Mormon one semester my freshman year of college). The topic was about how we know we have been through a spiritual rebirth. This may have been his topic...but I took something completely different from it.

He started talking about how becoming Christ-like is a life time pursuit, and that often times we don't even realize that there has been a change in our lives. He then talked about how when we have a change of heart, we become a new person...and we aggressively pursue the light of Christ.

This was all great, and he had some good insights...but then he shared a story of his life:

When he was in high school...he decided he was going to get on a sport's team because he was sick of being beaten up by all the jocks. He figured by being on a team he would gain respect and have a team to back him up. He tried out for soccer, basketball, football, baseball and wrestling...he was cut from all the try-outs and did not make a single team. He was pretty sad about this...but then he had the cross-country team approach him. They had 4 members on their team, and they needed a 5th player to actually be able to compete against different schools. He accepted their offer to join...and so began his running "career." He trained with the team, and went to all the competitions....he came in dead last for every competition. Then it was the state finals...and he had the 2 fastest kids on his team. At state, the 2 fastest kids crossed the finishing line as 1st and 2nd...and instead of resting and celebrating they kept running and turned around to find Brother Bartholomew. When they did, they ran the rest of the race on either side of him. And all three of them crossed the line together.

When he was telling us this story, he was very emotional. As was I...he painted a beautiful picture of how this life should really be done. Some of us are so worried about where we are in this life, if we are doing good, how close we are to Christ...but we need to realize that the real thing that defines us is the path that we are on...not where we are on it. If we are on the right path...then we need to help those around us get on the path, or to stay on the path.  And we also need to realize, it doesn't matter who finishes it first, or last...but that we ALL make it. We need each other every step of the way. Some of us may fall short, or want to quit the race....but we need to realize the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for everybody, everywhere and at anytime. He died for each of us...and together we can make it. We call each other Brother and Sister in this church, because that is what we are....Brother and Sisters. If we could all have this attitude I believe there wouldn't be so many who decide to quit the race. We all are after the same goals, we all have the same potential and we all have the same love from our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ....why couldn't we all make it?

This next semester as I enter into new classes, a new ward and into a new apartment...I really want to reflect to others that the Atonement is for everyone, everywhere and at any time. I want to help others on the path, and I want to cross the finish line with several people on either side of me. Heaven wouldn't be heaven if those I loved were not there...and not only those I love...but all those who I have come in contact with in my life because we all deserve heaven.

I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel that I have. I'm grateful to know my purpose here, and that when things get hard I know I can turn to the Lord to help me through it. I cannot deny God's and Jesus Christ existence in my life...there have been too many times where I have felt so blessed and loved that I know I'm not in this life alone. I hope that I can help others feel that love as well.