Thursday, July 21, 2011

Finding The Good

Something that my father always taught me as I was growing up is that there is good to be found in every situation. My testimony of this has grown over the course of my life and especially over the course of these last six months as I have been a missionary. I have found that no matter what scenario I might find myself in, there is always something good that can come from it.

For example, in high school there was a specific teacher who I had been told throughout my career in junior high was mean, nasty, and unfair to her students. However, when I eventually found myself in her class I found that it was true that she was a little rough around the edges, but there was a lot of good to be found in her. I didn't let what I had been told get in the way of us becoming friends, and I found that by the end of my high school career that she was one of my favorite teachers and we had developed a friendship that extended beyond schoolwork. To this day I still consider her a good friend.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained how we can find the good in every situation. He said,  "While looking for a new home, a young Latter-day Saint couple talked to potential neighbors about the neighborhood and the schools in the area.
One woman they spoke to said of the school her children were attending: 'This is the most incredible place! The principal is a wonderful and good man; the teachers are well qualified, kind, and friendly. I am so pleased that our children can attend this wonderful school. You’ll love it here!'

A different woman said of her children’s school: 'It’s a terrible place. The principal is self-absorbed; the teachers are unqualified, rude, and unfriendly. If I could afford to move out of this area, I’d do it in a heartbeat!'
The interesting thing was that both women were speaking about the same principal, the same teachers, and the same school.

Have you ever noticed that people can usually find whatever they are looking for? Look hard enough, and you can discover both good and bad in almost anyone and anything. People have done the same with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its beginning. Those who look for the good will find a kind and compassionate people—a people who love the Lord and desire to serve Him and bless the lives of their fellowman. But it is also true that those who look for the bad will certainly find things that are not so ideal.
Unfortunately, at times this happens even within the Church. There is no end to the creativity, ingenuity, and tenacity of those who look for reasons to criticize. They cannot seem to release their grip on grudges. They gossip and find fault with others. They nurse wounds for decades, taking every opportunity to tear down and demean others. This is not pleasing to the Lord, 'for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work' (James 3:16).

We have a choice. We can seek for the bad in others. Or we can make peace and work to extend to others the understanding, fairness, and forgiveness we so desperately desire for ourselves. It is our choice; for whatever we seek, that we will certainly find."

No comments:

Post a Comment