Stay Focused and the Power of Positive Thinking
A few years ago we lived in Bussy St. George, France while we served as public affaires missionaries. Our apartment was on the 2nd floor and looked out over a green space and playground. Late one summer afternoon through the window I noticed a dog under a tree near the playground. It appeared that he had an obsession with the lowest branch of a tree, which was 5 or 6 feet off the ground. The branch was free of leaves and was about ¾” in diameter. Every minute or two the dog would back up a few paces and take a flying leap at the branch with his mouth open. For a smallish dog he could really jump. But even with his best efforts he would still come up a foot or two short of his target. People gathered to watch this unique routine. As you can imagine, I too found myself watching the dog with interest. He jumped and he jumped. He really was determined to get a stick to play with. After several attempts he would lay down on the grass to rest, but he continued to gaze at the “stick”. Before long he was back to his jumping routine. He would leap and seem to wiggle in the air desperately making the effort to latch on to that branch.
Finally a couple of boys appeared with a stick. When they waved the stick near the dog he was ecstatic! When they threw it, the little dog took off like a rocket being launched to fetch the stick. For a long time the boys and the dog played together.
At first it seemed that this little animal was engaged in an activity that could never possibly lead to success. His efforts seemed wasted. Yet the determination and focus that he displayed was compelling. Everyone watching had wished for him to have success. In the end he reached the goal of playing with a stick and even had the bonus of a couple of boys to interact with.
Missionary work (and life for that matter) is sometimes a little like the dog and the branch. We see what we want to accomplish but it appears “too high” or seems to never “work out”. How easy it can be to become discouraged and stop trying. We might try to excuse discouraging thinking and say we are just “trying to be realistic.” The great UCLA basketball coach John Wooden may have said it best… “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
Very often missionary letters will tell a story something like this… “President we have been working our hearts out. We talk to over a 100 people a day and this whole week not one person wanted to hear our message. Then at church yesterday a family of 4 just walked in off the street and told us they were looking for a church to attend. They asked if we could tell them something about our beliefs” Don’t miracles always come after the faithful trial?
In Proverbs 12:27 we read… The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting (because he gave up) but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
The results we are seeing from Consecrated Days have shown us that we can be more successful than we have been in the past. We are already seeing improved performance. As we stay focused and exercise the power of positive determination,
through greater hope and faith, we will continue to see many miracles both in the mission field and throughout our lives after missionary service. Let’s be a little tenacious about our goals and just like the little French dog, we too will succeed!
Have a great week,
We love you,
President Brubaker
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