Chris Stewart - Redefining Joy in the Last Days

Library of CongressCataloging-in-Publication Data

Stewart, Chris,1960

Redefiningjoy in the last days / Chris Stewart.

p.cm.

ISBN978-1-60641-035-6 (hardbound : alk. paper)

1. HappinessReligiousaspectsChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I. Title.

BX8643.H35S742009

248.4'89332dc22 2008046938

Printed in Mexico

R. R. Donnelley andSons, Reynosa, Mexico

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

~

Some years ago, when I was in the AirForce, I found myself flying from a tiny British base in the Indian Ocean. Idbeen away from home for many weeks and was very anxious to get back to my wifeand children. Unfortunately, we had mechanical issues with our aircraft thatrequired us to divert into the Philippines. Late in the afternoon, we arrivedat Osan Air Force Base with only a short announcement that we were coming. Because of this, the base had noofficers quarters to offer us, and so they sent us downtown.

I remember stepping out of the taxi at one ofthe downtown hotels. It was a beautiful building: chrome and glass, thickcarpet, and beautiful woodwork. But as I made my way across the crowdedsidewalk, I couldnt help but notice a high, chain-link fencestretched across a blocked-off street that ran immediately behind thehotel.

I went into the fine lobby, registered, agreedto meet the rest of the crew for dinner, and followed a bellboy to my room.Having been up since early in the morning (very early, as in some absurd 2:00 a.m. takeoff time), I was very tired asI entered the room and threw my bags on the bed. To be honest, at this time Iwas in a foul mood. I was frustrated that wed spent so much time messing witha broken aircraft, frustrated that I was thirsty but afraid to drink the water,frustrated that I had to spend another night away from home. The bed lookedlumpy. The room had bugs, of courseeverything in thePhilippines had bugs. I knew the only American shows Id be able to watch onthe television would be old reruns of TheBrady Bunch. I was out of gum. I had broken a lace in my boot. Myhead was starting to pound.

My list of reasons for being in a bad mood waslong and full.

Hoping for a quick nap, I went to the window topull the curtains closed. My window happened to be at the back of the hotel onthe second floor. Looking down, I saw the reason for the fence, for therebehind the hotel was an open aqueduct with several terraced levels upon whichhundreds of people had built a shanty camp. Families were living all along thesides of the canalsome in cardboard houses, some in tents,many in the open. For a long time I stood by the window in my air-conditionedroom, tired but not hungry, with a headache but otherwise healthy, and veryhappy that I was going home. Home to the United States, land of freedom andplenty. Home to a wife and family who were fortunate enough not to live in aditch and who had never once in their lives gone hungry. Home to more blessingsthan I could even count.

Standing by the window, I watched a youngmother as she washed her daughters face and hair with the filthy water thatwas rushing from a pipe feeding into the canal. The scene touched me deeply. Ican remember it very clearly, even through the years.

And as I watched this young family, hungry,dirty, homeless, and certainly nearly hopeless, I suddenly felt so ashamed ofmy selfishness.

I learned a lesson that day about feeling sorryfor myself.

I think of that experience from time to time,especially when, once again, I find myself feeling a little down. Sometimes Ihave to wonder if I learned the lesson well enough. Do I appreciate theblessings Ive been given? Or do I forget sometimesI guess weall dothe attitude and perspectives it takes to live a happyand joyful life?

~

Idlike to ask a question. At the risk of stating what might seem tooobvious, Id like to ask you to consider: What is the purpose of our life hereon earth?

Think about that for a moment.

Why are we here?

When I was a missionary, we used to ask thisquestion as part of the missionary discussions. These are the answers that weused to teach, best as I can remember:

First, we came togain a body.

We also came to gainexperience.

Third, we came toprove ourselves.

And finally, we came to developfaith.

Have I forgotten anything? I think we got itpretty close. Those are the reasons we are hereand theyregood reasons. Cant argue with much of this.

Now, let me ask just a slightly differentquestion. In doing so, I hope to expand our perspective, maybe help us look atthe much bigger picture, to see beyond this life and the things that weexperience here. After all, we know that in the whole scheme of things thislife is but a single drop in the ocean. As important as it is, this life isjust a single phase in a much larger and much grander and much more majesticplan.

So then, looking at the bigger picture, let meask: What is the purpose of our existence? Why do we exist?

Maybe we dont know every answer to thatquestion, but we know at least one, for the scriptures tell us: Men are, thatthey might have joy (2 Nephi 2:25).

I really believe that.

I really believe, at its essence, that this isthe reason we exist.

The problem is, of course, there are so manyobstacles placed in our way. I hate that! So many challenges are placed in whatwe hoped would be a flower-strewn path of unending happiness. How could I possibly be happywhen I have to live with... I dont know, you fill inthe blank. I workfifty-hour weeks, Im supposed to be stressed. The stock market has collapsed,taking my retirement fund with it. My husband hasnt had a raise in five years.Ive got to lose twenty pounds. My kids have all grown up and are going to moveaway. Hold on, heres a bad one: Allof my kids have grown up, but are going to move back home!

I mean, come on, the list of reasons we cantbe happy right now is really,really long.

And some of these reasons are significant: My mom is sick. I want to getmarried. I lost a child. Im losing a child. Youll notice that themost significant challenges we encounter usually center on the relationships inour lives. Those of us who have cried over our children, our marriages, our parents,a lost friend, these are the things that can cut us to the bone.

But again, despite all of these things, we haveto learn to be happy.

Its important to realize that happiness isntsomething that is given to us. It isnt something we happen to bump into. Itisnt something God or our spouse or our parents owe us. Happiness, like mostimportant lessons in life, is something we have to learn.

And in this, as in everything, the Lord is ourperfect example.

One of my favorite stories in the scriptures isfound in the Pearl of Great Price. Moses tells this wonderful account of Enoch,who had a face-to-face discussion with God. As part of thisrevelation he was shown an astounding vision.