President Dieter Uchtdorf
In his October 2012 Conference address, President Uchtdorf told the story of he and his wife's lovely bike rides, which he ultimately wanted to turn into a competion. I love her loving, but firm refusal, "Dieter, it's not a race; it's a journey. Enjoy the moment!"
I made this little printable to remind me of that fact.
President Uchtdorf goes on to say, "
Sometimes in life we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to find joy in the journey. I don’t go cycling with my wife because I’m excited about finishing. I go because the experience of being with her is sweet and enjoyable.
Doesn’t it seem foolish to spoil sweet and joyful experiences because we are constantly anticipating the moment when they will end?
Do we listen to beautiful music waiting for the final note to fade before we allow ourselves to truly enjoy it? No. We listen and connect to the variations of melody, rhythm, and harmony throughout the composition.
Do we say our prayers with only the “amen” or the end in mind? Of course not. We pray to be close to our Heavenly Father, to receive His Spirit and feel His love.
We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. “This is the day which the Lord hath made … ,” the Psalmist wrote. “Rejoice and be glad in it.”
You can find his full Conference Talk HERE.
