Find Seek Sara

 My dearest friend Sara spoke in sacrament meeting today.  Her talk was on seeking the good.  

She shared an experience she had this summer.  In July, she and some of her family went to look at the apartment that Liv would be living in this year down at Snow College.  It was darling.  Then when they went to move Liv in a few weeks later, they were told to write down every little flaw...any scratches or nicks or holes or dents.  Sara went through the place very carefully (FAR more carefully than Michelle and I did when she moved in so hopefully Michelle doesn't have to pay a big fee at the end of the year)...and filled 4 pages with every tiny scratch and imperfection.  And by the time she was done, she felt like Liv's apartment was a terrible place.  And what had changed?  The second time she went specifically looking for the bad and the flawed...and she found it.  

She shared this quote by Elder Uchtdorf:  

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).

She also shared the following sweet story about our dear ward member Susan Vincent.  A few years ago, Susan was experiencing health struggles (she still is) and she had just lost her mom. Life felt really hard, and she was discouraged and upset.  One day she saw a picture of Eeyore.  She thought about his gloomy attitude and suddenly wondered if she was having that effect on those she loved and those who spent time with her.  She vowed to complain less and get rid of the "Eeyore effect".  It took a lot of conscientious effort, but she has worked hard to try to see the blessings she has and to not complain about her problems.  

She shared a few other experiences and scriptures and testified that we can find the good in everyone and everything if only we will look for it.

LESSONS LEARNED:

*Avoid the "Eeyore" syndrome.

*Look for the good in others and in experiences.

*Even simple, every day experiences can be powerful teachers if we are consciously looking for the lessons.