Save will Lose and Lose will Save
Some things may not always make sense.
Like why pizza comes in a square box, or why we learn cursive in school but never use it.
What about why a teenage boy leaves his life behind to
go serve in a foreign country for two years or why a busy forty year old man
with a career and family spends his Wednesday night supervising a trivial youth
church event.
Does it make sense?
The other day I stumbled across one of my favorite
scriptures
“ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” ~ Mathew 16:25
An almost identical verse in Mark says “But whosoever
shall be willing to lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall
save it.” Mark 8:37
Save will loose and loose will save. It’s a thought provoking concept isn’t it?
Save will loose and loose will save. It’s a thought provoking concept isn’t it?
I’ve heard these scriptures before but this time
around I started thinking. Certain people in my life came to mind as perfect people
that exemplified these words.
The first person I thought of brought me back to a
conversation I had my senior year of high school.
I was sitting in an economics class and had a group of
football boys that sat by me. They all very well knew I was LDS and loved to
ask questions. Surprisingly, I loved to answer. I don’t usually like the
spotlight but I felt a great sense of responsibility. To some of my peers I was
the only Mormon they knew and I always thought to myself “If I’m the only
Mormon they know I’d better be a good one.”
To others, (the football guys) I wasn’t the ONLY
Mormon they knew. There were a few special members that were older than me that
left some pretty big shoes to fill. They created the respectable reputation of
“The Mormons” in our town and I’m grateful for their example.
One of those people was former football star McKay
Jacobson. He was the star wide receiver for our high school and then continued
his career at BYU and then professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles. If you
know anything about the town I come from you know football is our pride and
joy. These boys all had D1 football scholarships and McKay was always an idol
they looked up to.
Somehow the topic of missions came up and with all the
questions that came along with it they asked, “Obviously McKay didn’t go did
he?” I replied, “Yeah he went to Japan,” every jaw dropped. “WHAT???” They were
shocked. “No no no! Not McKay! Even HE went?”
“Your telling us he left his whole FOOTBALL career for a mission?” One
of the more boastful ones said, “But Katelyn…McKay was like me. ….really really
good.” I just laughed and reassured them over and over again he most definitely
did but they just couldn’t seem to wrap their heads around this concept.
At first I was a little perplexed myself why it was so
hard for them to believe. I was raised the same way McKay was. And serving a
mission (for boys) was just always presumed. Then it hit me, of course
those boys were shocked. They felt so similar to McKay in the sense of football
but once they realized he left it all for the Lord they weren’t so sure
anymore. I mean, it is a crazy concept if you think about it. Young men leave education, family, girlfriends,
athletics, scholarships and pretty much EVERYTHING behind all for this thing
called a “mission”. Senior missionaries and mission presidents do the same along
with their career, house, grandkids you name it. You don’t get paid (in fact
you usually have to save up) and you don’t even know where you’re going to end
up. Africa, Russia, or Timbuktu. It may not make sense and seem a little crazy
in the eyes of those who don’t belong to our church and in fact it often times
seems crazy to us members too. But they willingly go because it’s the Lords’
will, and we have faith somehow, someway the blessings will out weigh the
sacrifice.
This conversation really opened my eyes and somehow
has always stuck with me. What might have seemed like an insane decision to those
football friends of mine was a great example to me. And to this day I’m not so sure
if McKay realizes the impact and example he was to so many members and non-members.
His choice to serve was a perfect example to me of these words. My football
friends may have thought he “lost “ more than he gained by not “saving” his football
career first. But I know if you asked McKay he would say he “found” more
purpose serving the Lord.
A closer up example I’ve had is that of my dad. As he
recently got released as bishop I’ve been reflecting on all he gave of himself
to the Lord. When he first got called I remember some of our other religious
friends found it quite odd. Texan folks are used to priests and pastors who get
paid. They couldn’t believe on top of all my dad has going that one day someone asked him to do the big job and
he simply said…..”yes.” The world may view him by his success as a businessman but
my dad knows true success in this life comes in consecrating our lives, of our
time and choices to Gods purposes. Just like every other bishop he had a family
and career but still found a way to put his heart and soul into his calling. I
know his service blessed the lives of countless people in the city of Southlake
and most of all our family. In fact, he’d be the first to tell you he himself
was the biggest recipient of all these blessing pouring down from above. Isn’t
it funny how that works? It may not always add up on paper but if we lose part
of our old life for the new life the Lord prepares for us, we are blessed further.
The more we give of anything, the more we get back.
I ask myself, how could I have watched my dad day
after day give of himself to this gospel if it weren’t true.
How can anyone
watch a 19 year old boy leave his life behind for two years to walk down
streets, getting door after door slammed in his face and not think there might
be a greater purpose behind it all.
These simple stories may seem insignificant to some,
but having these examples in my life have truly strengthened my testimony. When
I see people act out their faith this strongly, it is a true testament of the
happiness it brings into lives.
As president Kimball said, “ The Savior gave of himself,
his love, his service, his life….We should strive to give as he gave. To give
of one self is a holy gift and it pleases the Lord.”
I want to
please the Lord. And if he asks anything of me I hope I can see it as a privilege
and honor rather than a sacrifice.
So maybe after all, the things the Lord asks of us make
more sense than what may seem. (More important than cursive, right?)
Let us have
faith in the promises he makes if we follow his will.
Let the faith of so many around us lift us up and if
you don’t have your own testimony, lean on those who do.
May we remember that all we have comes from the Lord,
and we are simply just giving some of it back.
Much love always,
xoxo
Kate
