Nothing New - Just Renew

I spent almost an hour this morning scrolling - ads and posts all claiming to have the ‘latest

and best’ of their respective niche or discipline. Concepts, products, recipes - I’m guilty of throwing a few extra products into my shopping cart that I didn’t need. And most of the time? They weren’t that ‘late or great’, anyway.

It hurts if I think too hard about it, the consistent flow of ‘new’, all working to achieve something that’s never been achieved and produce a result never experienced - almost as if to condemn the processes that successfully got us here.

So I won’t pitch a new method or cure.

The only ‘new’ I would offer is a renewal of commitment to the small and simple.

I need this reminder every day - consider this a return to the basics.

Bullpen, Math Tests, and Faith Patterns.

Consider the pitcher who threw bullpen consistently but seemed to forget it all when he took the mound. Or the math student who did well on the homework but forgot every practiced process when sitting down to the exam.

For the audience, it's clear. To the active participant, tried and true actions to overcome obstacles can be easily forgotten when proximity, intensity, or pressure increases.

Instead of forgetting how, we must stay calm. "We're not starting over, we're starting from experience." (General Conference)

If the next stretch of life's path you face looks different than those that proceeded it, forgetting how to walk and finding a new way through is not the answer. The steps that carried you through then can carry you now, accompanied with improvements and enhancements that adjust to the new terrain.

Keep it Simple

Just because it wasn't strenuous to find does not mean the answer we got is wrong.

“..the Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can't come without it.” (Russel M. Nelson)

While some ends take intense means, some blessings of effort are obvious answers and seamless solutions. God trusts us as agents. We're to trust Him as we act and decide, doing the best we can with what we have.

While struggle can lead to testimony, it's not always necessary. Let faith replace surprise at the simple answers to our questions and a love for a God Who shows such mercy.

Consider on the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments - simple as that. (Book of Mormon)

Jesus Christ Was, Is, and Always Will Be the Answer

There's power in our experiences and successful patterns, because they're all extensions of the life, characteristics and doctrine of Jesus Christ.

So keep praying and serving and talking and studying and communicating and hoping and explaining and working.

Only loyalty to our Christ-rooted experiences and efforts can allow us to build. Otherwise, we've got nothing to build on.

And a beautiful thing about our Carpenter turned Savior, is that He won't build unless we allow Him to break ground.

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