Last night we held our high priest group dessert social and fireside. Thirty five people attended, mostly husbands and wives but several widows and widowers came, too. A banquet of desserts was laid out in the large kitchen of Don and Sue Ann Echols' home. Don is a periodontist who frequently will open their spacious 8,000 sq. ft home for Church functions.
The desserts were scrumptious, fat-filled, sugar-loaded, and overflowing with calories. When the person who offered the prayer asked the Lord to bless the food to the nourishment of our bodies, I almost broke out in laughter. Later I mentioned this to one of the sisters there and she said that she decided long ago to simply pray that we would enjoy the evening and refreshments--not a word about nutrition.
The highlight of the evening was the short inspirational message offered by our stake president, Paul Price, who is, of course, also the high priest quorum president. He shared his thoughts on acknowledging and recognizing the hand of the Lord in our lives. A wonderful message which went along nicely with the "Faith Promoting Experiences" booklet we put together over the past 6-8 months and handed out last night.
It was a delightful evening which hopefully blessed the lives of all who attended.
It's no secret that when it comes to fixing things around the house I'm a pretty good piano player. Whether its squeaky doors, a broken window, or jammed garbage disposal my first reaction is "CALL THE REPAIRMAN SO I CAN WRITE HIM A REALLY BIG CHECK FOR 15 MINUTES WORK!!" That would have happened today with our leaky outside faucet if it hadn't been for some really helpful people:
--Sean the brother-in-law who has become my invaluable first line of defense on things mechanical. He gave it a try, then wisely said, "can't figure this one out--it's a strange faucet--do you know a handyman you can call?"
--Don the church friend and widower who came at a run when I called him. He brought tools and talent and 75 years of do-it-yourself experience and performed a skilled surgical removal of the offending faucet.
--Mark the utility guy who came within 15 minutes of my call to turn off the water to the house and returned again within 30 minutes to turn it back on.
So I have lots of respect and gratitude to these men who graciously shared their time and talents with me.
I admire these fellows and want to be like them; so if you need something fixed in your house, just call me--I play a mean Chopin!
The challenge of being retired is to use time wisely--determining what is good, better and best. Today so far has been a blend of each:
--Had my devotional time (better)
--Cleaned my desk (good)
--Housekeeper came and gave our home a good cleaning (good)
--Played video game (good minus)
--Called my brother (best)
--Called my daughter (also best)
--Blogged (good)
--Emptied several file folders full of old papers and stuff (good)
--Went to the store for Melba (best)
This evening at the stake general priesthood meeting I fulfilled an assignment to join the stake presidency in a panel discussion about home teaching and personal priesthood interviews. We sat in chairs in risers right in front of the first pews. I was first, taking five minutes to discuss stewardship interviews. I finished, pleased with my presentation. The first counselor in the stake presidency was speaking and fielding questions from the large gathering of priesthood brethren. As he did so,one brother in the front row reached up to me and handed me a note. I thought it might be some nice compliment on my presentation. I opened the note and read the following:
"I noticed that your fly is open".
So much for decorum; I made the requisite adjustment and slunk down in my chair, chagrined...sigh...
A friend of mine, Ray Richey, sent me the following joke (sadly, I can SO relate):
A group of 40 year old golfing buddies discuss where they should meet for dinner. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's restaurant because the waitresses there are really good looking. 10 years later, at 50 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's because the food there is very good and the wine selection is good also. 10 years later at 60 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's because they can eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant is smoke free. 10 years later, at 70 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's because the restaurant is wheel chair accessible and they even have an elevator. 10 years later, at 80 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's because they have never been there before.
The Seattle temple is closed for two weeks of deep cleaning and minor repairs. Somehow the day seems a little empty. The two highlights of my week are attending worship service with Melba and serving as a temple ordinance worker on Wednesdays from 11:00am to 5:00pm. I always return home with my spirituality strengthened and my love of the temple ordinances deepened. A side benefit is the camaraderie I feel with my fellow ordinance workers. We have a brotherhood forged from serving together in the House of the Lord. I'll be glad when March 9 arrives so I can return to the temple.
For the past several months our high priest group has been submitting their accounts of experiences in their lives that have strengthened their faith and testimony. We have 23 stories and will go to press this week. I thought I would share with you the account I have included in the book.
The Miracle of Home Teaching
By Lawrence Barry
I have always appreciated the value of home teaching even though my own efforts have not always measured up. Sometimes I would get energized and visit my families early in the month, taking them a spiritual thought and making sure they were doing alright.
Other times I would find myself at the end of the month, having visited few if any of my assigned families. I would scurry around trying to set up last minute appointments so I could meet the “letter of the law”. I’m sure those visits were all “flame but no heat.”
Over the years I would hear of brethren speaking of the special spiritual blessings that came to them and their families because of their faithful efforts at home teaching. These accounts strengthened me although I had to admit that I had never had a similar experience.
All that changed when my wife, Melba, and I were assigned as a home teaching couple to visit a single sister I’ll call Melissa Newcomb (not her real name). Sister Newcomb was a young single woman just recently released from active duty in the Army. She was about 21 years old and was working at Fort Monroe, VA where I was stationed at the time.
In our first contact with Melissa she was reluctant to see us. We continued to gently press for some contact with her and finally she agreed to have lunch with us at a nearby restaurant. We bought her lunch and we had an enjoyable although somewhat awkward time getting to know her.
Each month thereafter we would meet with Melissa at the restaurant, always trying to get to know her a little more. We asked if we could visit with her in her apartment but she didn’t want to do that. So for over a year we met monthly for a “meet and greet”. Occasionally we would discuss gospel topics and encourage her to come to church with us. She never did.
Finally we were transferred and we lost contact with Melissa and frankly she slipped from our minds as we became involved in our new ward. Occasionally we would think of her and offer a prayer on her behalf but for all practical purposes she was “off our radar”.
All that changed a couple of years later when we received a letter postmarked Germany. It read something like this:
“Dear Brother and Sister Barry, I have often thought of you over these past two years. After you were transferred, my life began to change. I got my act together, started attending church and working things out with my bishop. I want to thank you for being such steady and faithful home teachers. I’m sure at times I must have been a challenge for you. Thank you for never giving up on me. I am currently serving an 18 month mission in Germany and love sharing the gospel with these wonderful people. Thank you again for being there for me even when I didn’t know I needed you.”
Sincerely,
Sister Melissa Newcomb
Frankfurt Germany Mission
Each time I find myself getting too routine or casual in my home teaching I remind myself of Sister Melissa Newcomb and how the Lord touched her and brought her back to Him through the home teaching program. It gives me new and wonderful meaning to the Lord’s teaching to the Nephites after his resurrection when he taught them about ministering to those members who wander away from the Church:
“Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.” (3 Nephi 18:32)
