Abridge To Brooklyn

* Post Edit: I dug this out of the many drafts of things I had written and hadn’t posted. It was written a couple of months ago, but it came to mind again today. Sometimes I write things that I need to reread because I should probably listen to my own advice more often. I find myself again not needing the sun to set later, but an extra shot of perspective for the future. I think the promise still applies…

Bishop Stewart had more spunk in his left index finger than most people have in their whole bodies.

This is probably why God only made him five foot four.

Like most Mormon bishops he volunteered his time, without pay, to preside over a congregation.

Unlike most Mormon bishops, he had a young family, a somewhat new career, and as previously mentioned, a lot of spunk. Which in Mormon terms, means that he didn’t fall asleep on the stand when the Stake High Counsel spoke– among many other of his quality quirks.

I wasn’t sure what to think of this spunky bishop when I first met him. At our first meeting he seemed indifferent to our formal names and started calling “Sister Jarrett”, the Sister I worked with, “J-Dog.”

The entire ward counsel sat in their ties and suits, ready for our missionary report. Without giving any indication that slang was even invited to the meeting, Bishop Stewart called on “J-Dog” to speak. I was the only one surprised by this–apparently the rest of the counsel had grown accustomed.

When Sister Jarrett was transferred and I started training Sister Spjut, he wrinkled his nose in his first attempt, “SpuJut?” and then announced that she would hereby be referred to as, “Sputnick.” (To which the Russian Sister, Sister Ignatova, exclaimed, (with her fist thrusting upward in an dangerously excited way) “I KNOW THIS WORD!!”

My initial impression of this man evolved as the weeks passed.

When the *Elders didn’t show up for a meeting and called apologetically because they were on the other side of town without transportation he taught me, “One person’s lack of planning causes another person’s emergency. Don’t make emergencies.”

This comment was said with seriousness–an effect I mentally noted especially when the consequence of these Elders for their lack of planning was to challenge them to a Sloppy Joe eating contest. Once their mouths were full Bishop Stewart quite simply called them to repentance for their ill-preparedness. He was met with a silent and an agreeable audience.

When one woman in our congregation who was experiencing very difficult times agreed to attend church more often, but confessed that she needed the money her Sunday tips gave her, our meetings with the Bishop were rescheduled for Friday’s in her section while she worked–so that we could leave a generous tip. I suspect other people in the congregation ended up eating more pancakes as well.

I overheard the sweet woman comment afterward, “She has made more money since she started keeping the Sabbath Day holy than she ever did working it…which is funny because Sunday always seemed more busy.”

I made note then from his example, that God is not unable to provide sufficient blessings to those who keep His commandments–but it never hurts to be the one to help administer those blessings.

The Thesis of what I learned from him though, came as a brief testimony in a ward welfare meeting.

At the time the congregation was weighed down with intensive needs from the leadership and the members. Not only was a lot being required of by the bishop and his counselors, but by all the presidencies in the ward. I could see the weariness in the eyes of each person in the room as tasks were delegated and dispersed.

I wondered, as I am sure many others wondered, how it could possibly all get done.

Bishop Stewart paused after delegating the tasks and shared that he had felt weighed down with all that was required of him as a father, husband, and a bishop, but that he had faith that: “When we put the Lord first in our lives, when we do what he needs us to do, no matter how great it is, he makes the sun set a little later in the day for us.

His testimony got a special file in my brain, and every now and then when I am deep cleaning the file opens with his testimony highlighted.

I believed it. I knew that he knew it. I knew it could work for me, but I never REALLY tried it.

This Sunday we had an amazing Relief Society lesson about the Atonement of Christ. The spirit spoke to my heart and humbled me. I saw the never ending spiral of need for Christ’s mercy. The more I need him, the more is expected of me, which makes me need him more. It was beautiful, but overwhelming.

Then the file folder opened and Bishop Stewart’s testimony echoed in my mind, “When we put the Lord first–he makes the sun set a little later in the day for us.”

My problem hasn’t been the sun.

My problem has been my energy.

Even I am sick of hearing myself complain about the heat, but it makes my skin constrict on my entrails and suffocates the drive and motivation right out of me. Then the  heat spurs my first trimester nausea. After a bout at the porcelain that leaves my throat aching, my face bloated and pressurized, and my heart racing, I feel ready to call it quits–RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

I also expect a lot of myself and get disappointed that so much of my energy goes to wishing I was helping others, rather than being able to do it.

But Sunday’s lesson really touched me and I began this week with more faith– that Christ would help me serve others.

Tonight as I walked and thought my prayers, I gratefully thanked Heavenly Father for the help I had gotten today. I didn’t do anything miraculous, but I made it through–and in good spirits.

I watched the sun set as I pushed Belle around the block and as I glanced at my watch I noted that the sun had set at the very same time as it did yesterday.

But I still had energy.

And I felt happy.

And I got two days worth of stuff done.

So I see why the Bishop promised, “If you put the Lord first, he will make the sun set a little later for you.”

*Elders: Male Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They are usually 19-27 years old. The term “Elder” is a title and doesn’t indicate that they are  “elderly” but refers to a calling within the Priesthood.