Getting the carrot in front of the horse
For more than six months we have been visiting a less-active member of the Church who lives less than half a mile from the building where the local congregation meets each Sunday. She is a delightfully outgoing individual with a contagious smile. Although this elderly widow is in her mid-80s, she is exceptionally healthy, looks almost twenty years younger than her actual age, and leads a very active life. On most days during the week she is out of her house for at least part if not most of the daylight hours.
During our first visit to her home last year, we invited her to come back to Church, and she immediately told us she "has no problem with either the Church's teachings or the members." On that occasion and during subsequent visits, she has told us that coming to Church would be dependent upon her daughter's availability to bring her. "My daughter and I have talked about returning to activity on several occasions, but we just haven't done it yet." For certain she told the truth, for we have heard the same thought expressed month after month but without any positive change.
During our latest visit to her home yesterday we showed her a picture of a horse with a carrot dangling in front of it on a rope and asked the woman to tell us what the photograph represented. She laughed and responded, "I know where you are going with this. The picture shows a carrot in front of a horse, and you want to know what it will take to get me out to Church."
During our latest visit to her home yesterday we showed her a picture of a horse with a carrot dangling in front of it on a rope and asked the woman to tell us what the photograph represented. She laughed and responded, "I know where you are going with this. The picture shows a carrot in front of a horse, and you want to know what it will take to get me out to Church."
We just smiled at this perceptive, less-active Church member and then we asked if we might share an article with her that was written by Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Seventy entitled "Do It Now", which addresses the consequences of procrastination:
"We know what is right, but we delay full spiritual involvement because of laziness, fear, rationalization, or lack of faith. We convince ourselves that “someday I’m going to do it.” However, for many “someday” never comes, and even for others who eventually do make a change, there is an irretrievable loss of progress and surely regression . . .
"Now is the time to exercise our faith. Now is the time to commit to righteousness. Now is the time to do whatever is required to resolve our undesired circumstances. Now is the time to reconcile with God through the merciful process of change afforded us by the Redeemer of mankind."
We asked the woman how long she thought she might have to act upon her decision to come back to Church before she would run out of tomorrows? We reminded her that the time left for us on our mission is growing very short, and we certainly have hoped that she and her daughter would become active again before we leave for home. "When do you finish your mission?" she asked with a concerned look on her face. When we responded that we will leave in March, she said, "I promise that I will come to Church before you go home. I don't take my commitments lightly!
So now, Sister Lindsay and I will patiently wait and pray that this individual will honor her commitment, which hasn't really been made to us but to the Lord.
"We know what is right, but we delay full spiritual involvement because of laziness, fear, rationalization, or lack of faith. We convince ourselves that “someday I’m going to do it.” However, for many “someday” never comes, and even for others who eventually do make a change, there is an irretrievable loss of progress and surely regression . . .
"Now is the time to exercise our faith. Now is the time to commit to righteousness. Now is the time to do whatever is required to resolve our undesired circumstances. Now is the time to reconcile with God through the merciful process of change afforded us by the Redeemer of mankind."
We asked the woman how long she thought she might have to act upon her decision to come back to Church before she would run out of tomorrows? We reminded her that the time left for us on our mission is growing very short, and we certainly have hoped that she and her daughter would become active again before we leave for home. "When do you finish your mission?" she asked with a concerned look on her face. When we responded that we will leave in March, she said, "I promise that I will come to Church before you go home. I don't take my commitments lightly!
So now, Sister Lindsay and I will patiently wait and pray that this individual will honor her commitment, which hasn't really been made to us but to the Lord.
Commitment is an act, not a word
- Jean-Paul Sartre
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