Comfort Zone

How would you define your "comfort zone?" If you're honest, it probably means an excuse not to try something new. Now, there are certain things that we should certainly refrain from doing or not worth trying, but I am starting to see that many experiences in life are limited only by our own arbitrary decisions. What's to say that you can't be a great artist, singer, dancer, etc. if you haven't given it a real try? This week I learned that I can rap.

Don't get any crazy ideas; I'm not a professional by any means. My group at EFY this last week decided to have nightly "rap battles." They would put on a beat and take turns rapping. Because I wanted to connect with my group, I decided to give it a try. Truthfully, my first attempt was pretty lame. As the week went on, I had more opportunities to try and I became more comfortable trying to rap. Some people even started to call me by my rapper name, Lil' Stu. At the end of the week, I performed a rap that I wrote in front of our whole session (about 500 people). By that time, I wasn't all that nervous. With a lot of pushing by the boys in my group, I was able to get out of my comfort zone and give something new a try. 

In short, don't let fear govern your decisions. Next time you have the chance, get out of your comfort zone. You will be surprised how much you will grow as a result. You have great potential--don't squander it!

Here is my rap that I performed. Sorry if you can't hear me all that well. 

Minnesota Nice

Last week was fantastic. I had a great experience in Minnesota. I loved my group of youth and we had a fun time. On my plane ride out there, the lady I was sitting next to introduced me to a slogan of theirs: "Minnesota Nice." From my interactions with Minnesotans, I found this to be true.

Perhaps the most simple, yet striking, example of "Minnesota Nice" occurred at the airport on Saturday. While going through airport security, I accidentally left my favorite zebra pen in the plastic bin. When I realized this, I went back to security and asked a TSA officer if he had by chance picked up my pen. I told him it was a silver and black zebra pen, and he reached to his shirt pocket and pulled out a pen. He then asked, "like this one." I said, "yes, but with the writing worn off." The officer told me I could have his brand new pen. I was quite surprised and I resisted initially. He wanted to give me the pen, so I took it. He remarked that the pen came from another who lost it, and that he could find another nice pen in their lost and found bins.

That was so simple, but it made me really happy. I went and told this story to many of the EFY counselors I was traveling with. Now, whenever I use my brand new zebra pen, I think of my friend in Minnesota and the small act of kindness he showed me. We never know how small acts of kindness can brighten, or even reshape, someone else's world.

Course Correction

Guess where I am? It is so green and beautiful here. OK, I realize that doesn't help you make your guess; I'm in Minnesota!  Yesterday I flew from Salt Lake to Minneapolis, and it was quite the adventure. We were supposed to get in at about 8 PM, but we didn't arrive until after 11 PM because of thunderstorms in the area.

Just as we were approaching the runway in Minneapolis (for the first time), our pilot pulled up suddenly. He said the visibility was too low, so we went into a holding pattern. The storm didn't move out quickly enough, so we headed to Des Moines, Iowa to refuel--I suspect there was more to the story than they told us, as we switched pilots there. After a short stop, we headed back to Minneapolis, and made a safe landing there. We all clapped as the plane landed, just like I experienced among the Armenians.

Recently, I have been thinking about course corrections. Sometimes we head down one road, which seems perfectly fine, but then an unforeseen obstacle or circumstance causes us to change our direction. God is the master course correcter. Much like yesterday's thunderstorms, He doesn't force us to change our course, but He can push us in the right direction. I believe God is aware of the details of our lives, and that He cares enough to help set us on the path that is best for us.

Box of Faith

Mimes. What does this word bring to mind? I would guess that an image came to your mind of a person dressed in white and black stripes with too much makeup on. In my mind, the most classic example of what a mime does is the "invisible box" routine, when a mime pretends to be confined to a box by placing his hands on the boundaries that only he can see. During this week at EFY my mind was opened to the surprising reality that we are just like mimes--confined to a box that we define.

The Book of Mormon frequently teaches of God's power to deliver and to work miracles (e.g., 1 Nephi 4:1; 17:50, Alma 7:8, Helaman 12:7-17, Mormon 9:16-17). One example of this that stands out to me is the Brother of Jared. After being commanded to build ships so that his people could cross the sea, the Brother of Jared approaches the Lord with a problem; they wouldn't have any light during their journey. The Lord responds by asking, "what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?" (Ether 2:25). As a possible solution, the Brother of Jared forms 16 small, clear stones and prays unto the Lord, asking that He touch them to make them shine in the darkness. "And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man...Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men" (Ether 3:4-5). The Lord then touches the stones, and they shine to provide the needed light.

Are there limits to God's power? Or as this was question was asked to Abraham, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). As the Brother of Jared knew, God's power is unlimited. There are no boundaries to what He can do. However, God works by power "according to the faith of the children of men" (Moroni 10:7), and we can limit His power in our lives by our lack of faith. Jesus said, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23) and "with God all things are possible" (Matt 19:26).

Can you see how we all are like mimes? We each define the boundaries of our own "Box of Faith." By believing that something is impossible, we might miss an opportunity to let God work in our lives. Going forward, I'm going to try to believe that God can do whatever He sees fit in my life, because I see that my lack of faith may have limited His power in the past. Not because He couldn't, but because I wouldn't.