The last few weeks I spent working in California on a house for my business partners brother. My business partner, Mark, has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry and I am learning a lot from him everyday. On one particular day this last week Mark gave me the following advice "William, slowdown and become a craftsman."
Today while in church, I went to a different ward than usual because I was too exhausted to go to my typical 9am sacrament meeting. During the passing of the bread and water the young man (about 12 years old) had two trays and was very efficient at getting his section, the bread and water. I could tell he would time the one tray just right with the passing of the other tray so no one was waiting for him to come and grab it and then it was off to the next row of folks. This young man I could tell had a great love for people as he would smile very politely and even wave to a few of them on a row, but he also got frustrated with people when they didn't seem to do things very efficiently in passing the tray down the row. While he was doing this I wanted to say to him "slowdown and become the Master."
As I said these words to this young man in my own head, I realized I really need that advice in my life. To slowdown and become more like my Savior Jesus Christ. I do so many things in my life that I don't know how I keep up at all, and sometimes I don't keep up, I just tread water and try and get through it. I currently own a construction company that I am actively seeking to build into a large business, a land developing company I am trying to also build, an outdoor marketing company that is launching very soon, a wonderful church calling, and a volunteer for Team Rubicon as their programs coordinator, oh and Adventures With Will, and....not to mention all the adventures I go on and the climbing I do and workouts.
Here I am, doing all of these things, accomplishing a lot, seeking bigger and loftier goals, doing a lot of good things. What I really realized today, is I need to focus more on becoming like my Savior, this doesn't mean I haven't had things I am working on to be more Christlike, but with everything going on I haven't left myself enough time to focus more on being like Christ. I haven't done enough to slowdown and really look at myself and make myself more into being who Heavenly Father wants me to be. All the things I am doing will take care of themselves and are material in comparison to becoming more like Christ, for that is Eternal Life.
For those who are doing a lot in their life, this advice I give, slow down and become who you want to become. Become the master of your skill. Hence the reason of the title "slowdown and become....." It is up to you who and what you become, and I have chosen to be more like my Savior Jesus Christ.
Many of us have a desire to do it all, and I am very guilty of this, but to slowdown and enjoy the journey a little bit more, to really focus on becoming a better person and not just accomplishing a list, is something that will stick with each of us forever. If we are very successful and we are jerks because we didn't take the time to become a better person, then our success won't matter. Slowdown and enjoy yourself a little bit more and the journey.
P.S. If you haven't sat and just watched a sunrise or sunset lately, I highly recommend you go and do it, nothing is more rejuvenating.
