No Coincidences

Tag: friendship

  • Monumental Moment

    Monumental Moment

    I’ve written about seemingly small moments in my life that made a huge difference on the trajectory of my future. I’ve mentioned a postcard. I’ve also mentioned a seemingly inconsequential invitation to join a basketball team (from that same link). I’d like to elaborate on that basketball invitation story.

    I was so nervous my first time coming back to church that I made my roommate come with me so I didn’t have to go alone. It had been years since I’d been at church.

    I only remember one thing about that first day back at church, and it was after sacrament meeting ended. I’d just sat through my first sacrament meeting in I’m not sure how many years. I was self-conscious, uncomfortable, ready to leave, when the person in front of me turned around in his seat.

    “Hey, do you play basketball?” He asked.

    I remember being blown away. I remember thinking, “Wow! The spirit is powerful here! How did he know???”

    I’ve thought back on that moment. Yes, the spirit was powerful that day. But not in a mystical, this stranger in front of me received a supernatural message that I loved basketball, kind of way. The world would consider that a powerful spiritual experience. What actually happened was equally as powerful, yet more easily “understood” by worldly standards.

    The truth is, as I now suspect, the person who sent that postcard went the extra mile. When I asked about going to church, after telling me where they met and what time, she also reached out to the Bishop of that ward. In hindsignt, I’m pretty sure I was brought up in ward council, a meeting where leaders of a church ward discuss pressing matters.

    I’m sure I was mentioned. I’m sure Kelsie, the postcard giver, told the bishop I liked basketball. That person who turned around in their chair to ask if I liked basketball was in that meeting. I’m sure he was looking for me.

    Is this any less miraculous?

    Is it any less of a miracle that an individual, who had never spoken to me before had heard of me and knew I needed friendship extended in my direction? A complete stranger stepped out of his comfort zone and said hi to a stranger and asked a seemingly random question. A complete stranger didn’t care if I was the worst basketball player in the world, he still asked me to join a city league team with him. 

    As a basketball player, that last part is significant. I would hesitate to ask someone I’d never seen play basketball to join my team. How do I know that person can dribble a basketball? How do I know whether or not that person knows how to play team basketball? How do I know whether or not that person is a nightmare on the basketball court?

    The invitation that day was about more than basketball. That invitation came from an individual who had heard about me, a wayward soul trying to come back, and followed a spiritual prompting to invite me to play on a basketball team- basketball skills be darned.

    That person’s name was David Lake and I owe him a great debt. I have thanked him for that moment. Such a tiny moment. I know he didn’t think about it much after doing it. That was just the kind of person he was. In that moment, a stranger knew me, cared about me, and invited me. 

    That moment made all the difference in my life.

    It’s amazing how a seemingly tiny moment can change the trajectory of a life. Where am I if not for that monumental moment? Did I come to church the next week? Did I meet my wife? Do I have Ivy, Sage, Wren – my own eternal family? 

    There are some moments that carry more weight than others, no matter how seemingly inconsequential.

    My invitation to anyone reading- the next time you’re at the grocery store, or the dog park, or the gym, or at work, and that strange thought comes to your mind while you’re conversing with someone, “Invite them.” Do it. You don’t know the profound blessing that can change a person’s life because you decide to step out of your comfort zone and invite a stranger.

    If you have been blessed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, share it. Invite others. It’s the least you can do to thank your Heavenly Father for this gift He has given you.

    Beth and I were laughing how roommate Chris is in this picture but I’m not. David Lake prominently placed.
    Beth and I actually met through church basketball. Crazy huh? As you’ll see in this picture, couldn’t be seen too close to her, would be too obvious.
    A future wife, future best friend I still coach with, many lifelong friends, and saving Bishop all in one picture. That’s a miracle.
  • Teaching in Heaven

    Teaching in Heaven

    I was having a conversation with a very close friend about the Church.  Topics ranged from authority, to the Book of Mormon, to prophets. 

    As I was having this conversation I realized how uphill the battle was to describe these things to someone whom the topic was so foreign to. It wasn’t that my friend was flawed in any way.  In fact, if there was any flaw it was in my ability to communicate with the English language things of such magnitude, such importance, such eternal significance. These situations are a reminder to me of how blessed I’ve been to be raised with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.

    I’ve had many such conversations.  Battling the biases, worldly distractions, and worldly concerns, so inherent and built into us while here during this mortal journey.

    As I was having this conversation with my friend, and struggling with the constant frustration of feeling like I’m just not doing justice to these spiritual topics through my words, something happened that’s never happened to me before.  I had a vision of sorts.  Really, it was simply a daydream.

    I saw myself after this life.  I saw this friend.  I saw the scales of mortality removed from his eyes and I saw that I would have the opportunity one day to teach these things again. When that opportunity came, language, bias, and distraction would not be part of the equation.  I saw that one day this friend would remember who he really was, and he would know who I really was, and I would be able to teach him.

    Countless friends started to pop up in my mind around this friend the conversation was being had with.  Countless people; from small, seemingly insignificant interactions to long drawn out discussions about the doctrine of Jesus Christ. I saw many people in my mind whom I love with all my heart. I saw them around me, and me able to teach them. Finally in a way they would understand. Without all my flaws and lack of ability to communicate holding them back.

    I realized this friend would accept the gospel.  No doubt in my mind.  One day, here or there.  The time spent here, with all the shortcomings in my communication, these conversations were planting seeds.  And one day, when I stand before him in all his eternal glory, he will accept my words because the seed was already there, from mortality.  He would remember our conversations here, and it will make it so much easier for him to accept Christ and His gospel there.

    I realized this situation would be with so many people I know here.  So many people I just can’t quite get the rights words, feeling, spirit, or power to persuade to see what I see and feel what I feel.  Again, no fault of those around me.  We all have our own journeys.  One day I’ll be able to teach again.  I look forward to that day.

    For anyone who has read a single word of my blog posts: you will be in that group I so anxiously wait to teach.  I thank you for reading, and look forward to that day when we remember who we are, and can be united under the name that grants us all we have, all we’ve ever had, and all we will ever have.

    The name of Jesus Christ.  Our redeemer.  Our Savior. 

  • What is the Power of Faith?

    What is the Power of Faith?

    What is the power of faith?

    Well, by it the worlds were made so… what can our faith do?

    I’ve written about a miracle I saw happen in my post Miracle Baptisms.

    I was once told a story that strengthened my faith and taught me something about the power of faith. By the way, this is a true story, not made up. If you don’t believe me, have faith.

    The story goes like this…

    There was a guy attending ASU.  His parents planned a big cruise vacation over the winter break.  This guy had been praying and looking for an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. Who? He didn’t know, just someone.  He had made a commitment to baptize a friend before the end of winter break.

    When his parents told him about the plans for the cruise he declined. His parents were shocked.  “Why??? We’re going on a family cruise!” He explained he already had plans.

    Best Large Cruise Ship Winners (2021) | USA TODAY 10Best

    “What plans?!” They asked. “What could be more important than our family cruise?”

    “I’ll be baptizing a friend at that time,” was his response.

    Oh… they thought.  Well, that is important.  They asked who the friend was.  He told them he didn’t know, yet. 

    Let’s break this down.  Here was a cruise.  It existed.  It was paid for.  It was happening.  It was a guarantee. 

    This guy, though, had another guarantee.  He had a commitment.  He would be baptizing someone at that time.

    Soon after the conversation with his parents (aka the testing of his faith) he was sitting outside on campus reading the Book of Mormon.  An acquaintance from class walked by and asked what he was reading.  A few weeks later our hero was baptizing this friend at the precise time his family was on their cruise.

    Some would say the cruise was a sure thing and the baptism was not.  The baptism was a pipe dream, a shot in the dark.  It was unlikely to happen.

    What role did faith play in this story?

    Obviously, faith was everything.

    Soon after declining a sure thing, an all-expense paid cruise vacation, the interaction happened.

    While this guy could have been on a cruise, he was doing something vastly more important, baptizing a friend.

    What is a cruise when compared to the eternal salvation of a soul, of one of God’s children?

    I don’t know the rest of the story. I don’t know what happened with the individual that was baptized. My faith tells something special happened. What if this individual joined the Church of Jesus Christ and devoted himself to it? What if he went on a mission? What if he baptizes five individuals on his mission and shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with countless others? What if he marries in the temple and has five children? What if those children are raised to worship Christ and bear testimony of Him throughout their lives?

    Fact – that cruise turned into one baptism.

    Faith – that one baptism turned into thousands hearing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and coming closer to their Savior.

    Where does faith end and fact start? – That’s up to us.

    “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”

    Doctrine and Covenants 18:10

    “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!”

    Doctrine and Covenants 18:15
  • Open Minds

    Open Minds

    Coincidences.  God puts people in our lives and around us for very important reasons.  Our encounters in this life are not by chance. 

    What would have happened if the first day I wanted to go to church my roommate Chris said, “no, go on your own, I’m not going to that place”? I probably wouldn’t have gone.  I may have never gone back.  That would have altered my life in profound ways.

    Chris was raised a certain way.  I think he was raised or taught, at least to some extent, to have an open mind.  When I asked him to go with me to my church his reaction was, “sure, why not?”

    I have a friend who got baptized about 5 years ago.  I came back to church about 4 years ago.  That person has become one of my closest friends, especially in the church.  We were able to grow together in our testimonies.  Early on, we had things in common, namely: sports.

    What would have happened if that friend didn’t get baptized?  Would I still be here?  Without someone to talk about the struggles, challenges, ups, and downs of returning to church, or in his case joining a church, would either of us have had the strength on our own to continue?  Of course, if it wasn’t this friend someone else may have stepped in.  That’s the amazing part about life.  The butterfly effect is a phrase we use.  Switch one event, one minor detail, and where are we?

    This friend’s mother lived across the country so I hadn’t had a chance to meet her for the first part of our friendship.  I was always so excited to meet his mom.  Why?  Because I wanted to meet the person who raised someone that was so open minded to investigate and research a church and find truth.  People completely open to truth, in whatever form it comes, are rare today.  When I met her I was not disappointed.  She was an open-minded, positive, and powerful woman.

    What would have happened if she didn’t raise her son this certain way?  What if 5 years prior he was introduced to the church and, because of moments throughout his life, he instead developed a closed-off approach to new things?  What if he said, “I don’t need a church.”  If he didn’t get baptized 5 years ago, would I be here?

    Dominoes.  Butterflies.

    There are all these moments, countless moments that impact us.  We’ll never know in this life how tiny moments in our life have profound impacts.

    I know that God laid forth this plan and every moment is important. We’re here to grow, we’re here to learn. I firmly believe God put us in the best possible position to accomplish those things. There are no coincidences in God’s plan.

    I’m grateful for people with open minds.  I’m grateful for people with closed-off minds.  I’m grateful for people in between.  We all have something to teach each other and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be here and to develop relationships, to learn to love, and to learn what is most important. Every day is a new opportunity to learn and grow and I’m thankful for that.