I pondered this week on the power of stories… I think they can be very encouraging, but on the other hand, they can be discouraging. In particular, when the focal point of the story is on the outcome. For example:
- “…and then he got baptized!”
- “…and finally we got engaged, and married!”
- “…and they lived happily ever after!”
In reality, these endings are very brief, and validating a story by it’s ending discounts what happens before and after. In missionary work, it can make all our efforts seem vain if the person never gets baptized. Or (more close to home for me) in dating, it can make my 10 years as a single adult seem wasted — if I don’t consider any of it valid until I reach my “happy ending.”
In reality, we usually find ourselves in the middle of a story, and we can miss so much of the present, and lose so much time in yearning, if we’re constantly waiting for the fairy-tale ending. And when the fairy-tale ending does come, it goes just as quickly, and life goes on!
p.s. Speaking of Fairy Tales, Paul and I published this music video called “Fairy Tale” about a week and a half ago. We put 250+ hours into it. It’s in Tagalog, so you may not understand it, but let me know what you think!
p.p.s. I hiked Mount Timp (just up to the first two waterfalls) with my friend McKay on the 4th :)
Hi Zach,
I liked the short cameo appearance of yourself in the video directing the music! It made me laugh.
Thanks! Glad you caught it :)
I always say that success in missionary service is not in baptisms, but rather in the effort. Every time I open my mouth and share testimony (whether that is formal or informal), I am a bit more successful. This isn’t meant to diminish the joy of watching someone we’ve worked with actually enter the waters of baptism–like you so clearly state, we just can’t get caught up in defining “success” or “failure” by the end result. Well said.
Thanks for reading, and for sharing your thoughts :)