Do you remember that one time when....?
Most stories worth retelling start with a simple question: Do you remember that one time? Whether it be an inside joke among family (coconuts) or reminiscing with a friend about an activity that it's still not clear how anyone survived (rotating drivers inside of a moving vehicle) these are the experiences that create the best, most lasting memories. In the moment they occur they may not feel like events or experiences you'll have in your treasure chest of memories later in life but inevitably you'll find yourself siting down next to someone with whom you have shared one of these unique experiences and one of you will ask the other: Do you remember that one time?
So here's the thing about these stories and experiences. You can't share them with just anyone, but you have to share them with someone. For example, I went to San Francisco last year on a business trip by myself and have some good memories of walking across the Golden Gate Bridge with a freezing rain coming in horizontally at what felt like 50 miles per hour. It was the kind of experience I can easily see coming up in a conversation years down the road. "Do you remember that one time we were in San Francisco and we got caught in that weird mini-hurricane coming back across the bridge?" (One great thing about these stories is their capacity to grow and enhance themselves with each retelling). One small issue though. The only person that will answer that question and add some of their own flavor to the story is me. I was the only one there. Sure, there were hundreds of other people in the vicinity. I even said hello to some of them as we crossed paths, but the experience is mine alone.
Fast forward to this last weekend. We had the opportunity to take one last family vacation to Bryce Canyon before school starts. For those of you that have never been, make time and go. If you go in the summer months you'll need to brush up on your French if you want to talk to anybody outside your immediate family and park employees-the place is loaded with tourists and almost all of them seem to be speaking French-but you can't beat the scenery and the experience. Some of the views and things you'll see are of the once-in-a-lifetime variety. A weekend trip there is guaranteed to be loaded with "Do you remember that one time" level stories. My family still talks about the time our 3 year old chose the bottom of an 800 foot ascent to fall asleep, which resulted in Daddy having to haul a 30 pound sack of sleeping potatoes all the way back up to the top. My wife's family still talks about a time before we were married that one of their friends crawled head first into a barbed-wire fence while playing night games and nearly lost an eye.
So, this last weekend was no different. It started Friday night with some logistical challenges resulting in a late departure from home, resulting in not having enough time to cook dinner at our campsite before we had to leave for a concert being held that night, which resulted in stopping at a gas station on the way who advertised hot dogs (we were starving), which resulted in said gas station not actually having any hot dogs, which resulted in us purchasing some expired Cliff bars to tide us over till after the concert (we only found out they were expired once it was too late), which resulted in us being much more hungry that we anticipated after the concert, at which point we cooked our originally planned dinner and ate a great meal just before midnight.
All of that and I left out the best part. The concert. The Utah Symphony held what they called the Mighty 5 Tour in which they played outdoor concerts at each of Utah's five National Parks (bonus points if you can name the other 4. I'm not giving you credit for Bryce Canyon). The concert was amazing and was enhanced exponentially by the amazing scenery. The venue was a place called the Canyon Rim and it's basically a large flat area that looks out over Bryce Canyon. The concert started at 8:00 PM and ended just before 10:00, so we got to experience the full range of the beauty that is Bryce Canyon: Amazing canyons and hoodoos, an absolutely gorgeous sunset, and a starry night sky that can only be viewed far, far away from the bright lights of the city. Despite the fact that it's around a 5 hour drive to get there from my house, the concert alone would have been worth the trip. It was once-in-a-lifetime. One of the crown jewels in the memory treasure chest. But I want to stay on topic here, so let me mention that I was not by myself. My wife and 2 daughters were there as well as my mother-in-law, so I have people besides me, myself, and I that can fill in the blanks when I ask: Do you remember that one time?
This is one of the great lessons of life. Don't pass up opportunities to have experiences. Great things happen to people who say yes and aren't afraid to try new things. Life-changing experiences and some of your best journal material is found when you surround yourself with loved ones and go and do. The scriptures are filled with examples of people whose lives were changed simply by saying yes to an opportunity. We would never know of Amulek if he had been to scared, or too busy, or too prideful to say yes when the Lord sent Alma to his door. Think of how Nephi's life (and probably ours too) would have been vastly different if he had said "I will think about going and doing, but I'm not sure I want to. I already made other plans."
Now, there are a few people reading this who probably feel a medium-sized finger pointed at them. That's okay. It's also intentional. Part of the reason I chose this experience to write about is that although we had a great time, we didn't feel complete. We were missing some pieces that would have made the experience that much sweeter. Instead, when we sit down for Sunday dinner we will start talking about that one time we went to the Symphony at Bryce Canyon and not everyone at the table will be able to help polish the story and buff out it's rough edges. Those who had the experience will feel a little awkward talking about what a great experience it was, not wanting to make those who missed out feel left out.
When Lehi had his dream of the Tree of Life one of the first things he was shown was his family. The account from the Book of Mormon is tells us that several of Lehi's family were quick to join Lehi at the tree and taste the fruit, which made Lehi very happy. We also learn, however that others of his family chose a different path. It caused Lehi great pain to see his children choose other pursuits over family.
So, now that I've compared my relatives to Laman and Lemuel and thoroughly offended them, let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (Sorry, I couldn't stop the words from typing themselves). I'm not saying that eternal salvation hangs in the balance because of a missed weekend camping trip. What I am saying is that when given a choice between an activity with your family and something else, choose family. When presented with a choice between doing something for yourself and something for others, choose service. When the Lord asks you for your help, choose God.
All of our choice and our activities are being carefully recorded. The Book of Revelation teaches us about the book of life, from which we will be judged. At the end of our mortal journey we will sit down with the Savior, our Redeemer and Judge, and I imagine he may start with a question.
Do you remember that one time...?
So here's the thing about these stories and experiences. You can't share them with just anyone, but you have to share them with someone. For example, I went to San Francisco last year on a business trip by myself and have some good memories of walking across the Golden Gate Bridge with a freezing rain coming in horizontally at what felt like 50 miles per hour. It was the kind of experience I can easily see coming up in a conversation years down the road. "Do you remember that one time we were in San Francisco and we got caught in that weird mini-hurricane coming back across the bridge?" (One great thing about these stories is their capacity to grow and enhance themselves with each retelling). One small issue though. The only person that will answer that question and add some of their own flavor to the story is me. I was the only one there. Sure, there were hundreds of other people in the vicinity. I even said hello to some of them as we crossed paths, but the experience is mine alone.
Fast forward to this last weekend. We had the opportunity to take one last family vacation to Bryce Canyon before school starts. For those of you that have never been, make time and go. If you go in the summer months you'll need to brush up on your French if you want to talk to anybody outside your immediate family and park employees-the place is loaded with tourists and almost all of them seem to be speaking French-but you can't beat the scenery and the experience. Some of the views and things you'll see are of the once-in-a-lifetime variety. A weekend trip there is guaranteed to be loaded with "Do you remember that one time" level stories. My family still talks about the time our 3 year old chose the bottom of an 800 foot ascent to fall asleep, which resulted in Daddy having to haul a 30 pound sack of sleeping potatoes all the way back up to the top. My wife's family still talks about a time before we were married that one of their friends crawled head first into a barbed-wire fence while playing night games and nearly lost an eye.
So, this last weekend was no different. It started Friday night with some logistical challenges resulting in a late departure from home, resulting in not having enough time to cook dinner at our campsite before we had to leave for a concert being held that night, which resulted in stopping at a gas station on the way who advertised hot dogs (we were starving), which resulted in said gas station not actually having any hot dogs, which resulted in us purchasing some expired Cliff bars to tide us over till after the concert (we only found out they were expired once it was too late), which resulted in us being much more hungry that we anticipated after the concert, at which point we cooked our originally planned dinner and ate a great meal just before midnight.
All of that and I left out the best part. The concert. The Utah Symphony held what they called the Mighty 5 Tour in which they played outdoor concerts at each of Utah's five National Parks (bonus points if you can name the other 4. I'm not giving you credit for Bryce Canyon). The concert was amazing and was enhanced exponentially by the amazing scenery. The venue was a place called the Canyon Rim and it's basically a large flat area that looks out over Bryce Canyon. The concert started at 8:00 PM and ended just before 10:00, so we got to experience the full range of the beauty that is Bryce Canyon: Amazing canyons and hoodoos, an absolutely gorgeous sunset, and a starry night sky that can only be viewed far, far away from the bright lights of the city. Despite the fact that it's around a 5 hour drive to get there from my house, the concert alone would have been worth the trip. It was once-in-a-lifetime. One of the crown jewels in the memory treasure chest. But I want to stay on topic here, so let me mention that I was not by myself. My wife and 2 daughters were there as well as my mother-in-law, so I have people besides me, myself, and I that can fill in the blanks when I ask: Do you remember that one time?
This is one of the great lessons of life. Don't pass up opportunities to have experiences. Great things happen to people who say yes and aren't afraid to try new things. Life-changing experiences and some of your best journal material is found when you surround yourself with loved ones and go and do. The scriptures are filled with examples of people whose lives were changed simply by saying yes to an opportunity. We would never know of Amulek if he had been to scared, or too busy, or too prideful to say yes when the Lord sent Alma to his door. Think of how Nephi's life (and probably ours too) would have been vastly different if he had said "I will think about going and doing, but I'm not sure I want to. I already made other plans."
Now, there are a few people reading this who probably feel a medium-sized finger pointed at them. That's okay. It's also intentional. Part of the reason I chose this experience to write about is that although we had a great time, we didn't feel complete. We were missing some pieces that would have made the experience that much sweeter. Instead, when we sit down for Sunday dinner we will start talking about that one time we went to the Symphony at Bryce Canyon and not everyone at the table will be able to help polish the story and buff out it's rough edges. Those who had the experience will feel a little awkward talking about what a great experience it was, not wanting to make those who missed out feel left out.
When Lehi had his dream of the Tree of Life one of the first things he was shown was his family. The account from the Book of Mormon is tells us that several of Lehi's family were quick to join Lehi at the tree and taste the fruit, which made Lehi very happy. We also learn, however that others of his family chose a different path. It caused Lehi great pain to see his children choose other pursuits over family.
So, now that I've compared my relatives to Laman and Lemuel and thoroughly offended them, let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (Sorry, I couldn't stop the words from typing themselves). I'm not saying that eternal salvation hangs in the balance because of a missed weekend camping trip. What I am saying is that when given a choice between an activity with your family and something else, choose family. When presented with a choice between doing something for yourself and something for others, choose service. When the Lord asks you for your help, choose God.
All of our choice and our activities are being carefully recorded. The Book of Revelation teaches us about the book of life, from which we will be judged. At the end of our mortal journey we will sit down with the Savior, our Redeemer and Judge, and I imagine he may start with a question.
Do you remember that one time...?
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