The Rat's Reality

I am currently reading "The Power of Habit:  Why we do what we do in life and business".  I'm not that far into the book but had an epiphany while reading pages 14 and 15.  In these pages an experiment is described.  The experiment tested the brain activity of rats while running a maze whose ultimate reward was chocolate.  As the rats set out on their initial meandering, their brains were ablaze as they scratched, sniffed, and pawed their way around.  As time passed, and the rats successfully repeated the race, the activity in the brains of the rats began to dim.  The researchers noted that, with each successive running, each rat became more familiar with the maze, the running of the course became automated, and the rats finished faster and faster.

Much like the brains of these little creatures, our brains are constantly looking for the easiest way.  Our brains categorize activities and create neural highways, down which neural impulses can travel at higher speeds.  As things become automatic, we expend less energy on completing tasks which previously came at great cost.

For most, every day is relatively the same.  Imagine your commute to work.  The traffic is the same day to day and week to week.  You pass the same landmarks, you see the same eighteen-wheelers, and even get cut off by the same jerk.  Now, remember the time(s) that you pulled into work, or up to a friend's house, and couldn't remember having driven there.  You weren't intoxicated (hopefully) and yet you couldn't remember turning at the light.  Your mental conversation might have been similar to my own, "Was I asleep?  Did I run that light?  Good thing nobody ran out in front of me, I probably would have hit them!"  (I doubt that you would have hit them, your brain, although on autopilot, would have recognized the change in the environment) 

Now for the epiphany:


If we switch on autopilot for everyday things in life, then what stops us from doing the same in our spiritual lives?  I submit that the process is the same.  If we do not consciously avoid automating our scripture reading and our prayers, then we run the risk of shutting ourselves off to the inspiration of the Spirit.  That, of course, is not to say that we will not be blessed for reading our scriptures and saying our prayers.  However, how much more beneficial will it be for us to break from our routine of reading the next chapter as quickly as possible, saying our next prayer, and getting on with our day?  I would ask, what is wrong with reading one verse, having a question, and then spending the next 30 minutes (or so) researching that question and the answers?  I have noticed that as I follow the thoughts that I receive, my studies are much more fruitful.

I wish not to convey that I do this every time I study the scriptures.  I am not trying to paint myself as a scholar of scripture.  I, like many that I know, struggle to read my scriptures daily.  Many things in this world call for our attention:  work, school, government, athletics, entertainment, physical fitness, etc.  It is important that we prioritize our lives in the way our Father in Heaven wishes.  Is another game, television show, or book, which may eliminate the time to read from the scriptures, more important than reading the word of God?  I know that reading the scriptures first thing in the morning is best for me to ensure that I read them.  I also know, from experience, that reading the scriptures early is sometimes difficult or even impossible as I stayed up too late the night before. (writing a blog post until after 1 a.m.)

PLANNING - so much of life is planning ahead of time what you will do.  How will you spend your time?  Where will you spend your money?  How can you wake up 15-30 minutes earlier to ensure proper study time?  When temptation strikes, what is your plan?  Who will you call? (I doubt the Ghostbusters can help you here)  Plan to have variation and when plans need changing, be flexible.  After all, our plans do need tweaking from time to time to find their way into harmony with Heaven.

North Star

I am currently reading a book called, "Standing for Something" by Gordon B. Hinckley.  So far, it is a wonderful book that has brought me to think about several things.  In chapter one, President Hinckley describes how love is essential in life.  My point in this post is not about love.  Rather, it is about something else that is mentioned in that first chapter, the North Star.

President Hinckley comments that most of us nowadays are not able to always see the North Star due to the fact that we live in cities and the city lights drown out the firmament.  I immediately felt that this is much the same as the Spirit and the guidance he gives.  Nowadays, the "lights" of the world are getting brighter and trying to drown out the Spirit.  Just as we can choose to venture up into the mountains, get away from the city lights, and see the stars, we can distance ourselves from the worldly lights, receive the guidance from Heavenly Father, and choose to follow it.

Then [Insert Name Here], why are you here?

As I do with every General Conference, I anxiously awaited to hear Elder Holland speak.  I feel that everything that comes out of his mouth is directed right at me.  I enjoy the direction that I receive when he speaks.  This conference was no different as I anxiously awaited and Elder Holland delivered.  However, I had stayed awake until 5:30 a.m. that morning spending time with cousins and had unwittingly entered the day very unprepared.  I tried to remain awake and alert but I feel terrible to admit that sleep overcame me as I desperately hung on for only a few introductory sentences.  I learned that Elder Holland feels more sympathy for the 11 remaining apostles after Christ's death than for any other group in history.  Fade to black.

I woke up an hour or two later, I felt more rested but I also felt that I had missed out.  Thanks to technology I was able to pull up that talk and I have listened to it several times this week.  It is titled "The First Great Commandment." Elder Holland tells the story of the post crucifixion church and ministry in what he calls his own "nonscriptural elaboration."  After Christ had been taken up, Peter, feeling lost and certainly not knowing what to do without the Savior, abandons the ministry and goes fishing.

After a night of catching absolutely nothing, except maybe a few zzzzzzz's and perhaps a cold, the apostles are told by someone on the beach to cast their nets to the other side.  Upon recognizing that it was the Savior who called out to them, Peter threw himself overboard and quickly swam to shore where he rushed over to meet the Savior.  I can only imagine the joy he felt wrapping his arms around the One that brought peace and comfort.  After exchanging heartfelt affection, the Savior asks him, "Peter, do you love me?"  To which Peter promptly responds, "YES!"  The Savior later asks again, "Peter, do you love me?"  "Of course I love thee" is the reply.  Then, a third time the Savior asks the Chief Apostle, "Peter, do you REALLY love me?"  As Elder Holland explains, Peter undoubtedly feels a bit uncomfortable at this question being asked a third time.  However, after examining his feelings he answers, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee."  Here is where this story hits home.  The Savior responds, "Then Peter, why are you here?  Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation?  Wasn't it obvious then and isn't it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish?  What I need, Peter, are disciples -- and I need them forever."

This story illustrates that it is vitally important to the Savior that we become every-moment-disciples.  I find that it is very easy for me to fall back into the same old habits of yesteryear.  Humility is harder to hold onto than anything else in the world.  I was humbled by my failed graduate school attempt to NoDak.  For a time, I drew strength from the Lord every single day.  Then, without realizing it, I became complacent.  I became comfortable in my surroundings.  I became prideful and slowly I have called upon the Lord less and less and have seen that I have struggled more and more.  

As my dear friend Mike said (and Yeah Mike, I called you dear...but in a totally manly way), "It's easy to do evil.  It's easy to not do what we're supposed to do.  Doing what Heavenly Father wants us to do takes work.  And we have to constantly work at it."  When I listen to Elder Holland say the phrase, "Then [Brian], why are you here?" it is as if I hear him say, "If you love the Savior, then why are you doing this?"  I imagine, Why are you here...watching that inappropriate television program or movie, wasting your time with that video game, forgoing your scripture reading, avoiding your responsibilities as a home teacher, entertaining that temptation, overeating, failing to trust me...I'm sure I could go on but I'm sensing there isn't enough Prozac in the world if I continue what was meant to be a short list.

As hopeless as I make myself sound, I gain strength knowing that the Lord beckons, "If you truly love Me, then come over here and I will show you how to demonstrate it!"  I know that I can do what Heavenly Father wants me to do.  It is so simple.  The Savior is not asking us to give up our lives in the same way that He did.  He asks that we give up our lives in the service of our fellow beings, our brothers and sisters.