Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Finding a Jackpot of Coins in Canada

This past weekend I was a presenter at First Lady Herbert's "Uplift Utah Families" Convention at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. I heard the best story from the camera man who recorded my presentation. After the workshop, I was able to visit in the hallway with Nick for a few minutes. I'm so glad he was assigned to film my workshop, because he is a like-minded individual who I feel so blessed to be acquainted with.

Nick returned home from serving an LDS mission in Canada about a year ago. He told me he was sent into an area where the missionary work was essentially dead. There hadn't been baptisms for a long time. The companion he was assigned to work with told him not to expect any success in that area. It was just a bad area to work in. Regardless of the negative view this companion had on seeking out investigators, he still found something to focus on. He had a habit of always looking on the ground for coins. Every day he found coins. Pennies, nickels, dimes, even quarters. One day while they were out and about doing what missionaries do, the young man found a literal jackpot of quarters in a puddle. Nick told me he couldn't believe it. It was as if coins were attracted to this guy. It was all he looked for.

Nick told me that when he decided to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he had high expectations. He had a vision of successfully teaching many about Jesus Christ. He knew he would find MANY people who were searching for meaning and fulfillment and would want to hear his message. Although he was intrigued by his companion's magnetic attraction to coins, he never gave up on his own focus and vision of what HE wanted to find.

I asked if he felt he was successful as a missionary. His smile lit up the hallway as he told me he met, taught, and baptized a man who today is his best friend. Later, in and email, he told me his closest friends today are those he taught while he was a missionary in Canada.

I'm so glad to call Nick my friend. He is so young (compared to me!) yet so wise. I know he is going places because he understands the power of a positive vision. Over time, our circumstances truly mirror what goes on inside our head. The jackpot of coins is such a good example of this!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Jim Carrey and a Sandwich

This morning I read a "Message of the Day" that made me chuckle. Jim Carrey is quoted as saying, "I would visualize things coming to me. It would just make me feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That's the thing. You can't just visualize and go eat a sandwich."

I met a woman recently at the Murray Costco who chose to not "go eat a sandwich". Her daughter came home from school excited about a study abroad opportunity her high school had coordinated through a foreign exchange program. The daughter energetically started reading the pamphlet to her mother. When she got the part outlining costs and deadlines, her face fell and she tried to mask her discouragement. The mother put her arm around her daughter and said "Why not? Why can't you go?" The daughter looked quizzically at her mother. Mom said, "We can make this happen."

She was a single mother and financial means were scarce. She had her daughter imagine how happy she IS, sitting on the airplane taking off for Europe. She told her, "From here on out, only positive emotions and thoughts about the trip. Make it REAL in your mind. We aren't going to let our current circumstances dictate our emotions. Now let's get to WORK." They made a flyer and distributed it all over their neighborhood. They asked for donated items to sell at a Saturday Flea Market at the State Fair Grounds. This creative mother only had a small sedan and had to make multiple trips from neighbors to their home collecting all kinds of "junk". It took three weekend trips to the Flea Market, but they managed to raise all the money necessary to give the daughter this positive educational experience.

The mother was glowing with pride as she related this tale. What a great example this mother showed her daughter. Instead of eating a sandwich, they got to work. Instead of thinking they weren't worthy of such a great experience, they believed it was within their reach. Visualization was their fuel and catalyst to achieving that success.

I think Jeff and I should go to Hawaii for our 20th Wedding Anniversary. I will have to discuss that with him when he gets home. :) He will probably want to go golfing in Banff. We will have to see if we can find a goal we agree on!