Let me go back a few weeks...
Those who know me would probably say I'm a religious person. I know what I believe and for the most part I try to let those beliefs show in my daily actions. I've been told that when I first got home from my mission I tried to make everything a teaching opportunity, with family, friends, strangers, etc. Not that teaching is bad, but it's good to relax and just let people be themselves sometimes. I didn't realize I was so awkward, sorry family! Thanks to all who were so patient with me!
Recently I have kept myself so busy enjoying and exploring things here, that I haven't allowed any downtime where it's quiet and I can just think, or allow for an opportunity of personal direction and answers. I've realized that it is desperately something I need in my life if I'm ever going to make big decisions or really do anything. I think we all need to have downtime where we can reconnect with our Maker and ourselves. It was a few weeks ago that I finally started cutting back on different activities, even just a little, and providing the opportunities for quiet thought and relaxation. One night I realized I had an extra hour and was in downtown DC, so I ended up sitting on the steps of the Library of Congress facing the amazing Capitol with all it's lights and magnificent history and everything. As I sat there, surrounded by incredibly historic things, I couldn't help but keep my mind on the things of the gospel, the plan of salvation, and the words of the prophets, not presidents. It was a wonderful night of reconnection for me.
Since I have been living in the greater DC area I meet a lot of great people who do not have the same knowledge and understanding of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ as I've been blessed with. So, I try to share it with them in a non-threatening way of invitation. It's really interesting doing this and not being a missionary, but necessary just the same. On the way home on the metro that night I was reading the little Book of Mormon that I carry, and for the first time someone asked me about it. Naturally I was really excited to have someone approach me about what I was reading instead of me going to them. We started to have a wonderful discussion, I felt, but it turned out the man didn't believe in any kind of God or power, and didn't want to at all. It turned into a discussion of agreeing to disagree and he wouldn't accept anything I offered, not a pass-a-long card or a statement of belief, but did at least accept my best regards as I got off at my stop. Took me right back to the mission again.
The reason for all of this background, is because last night after my long day in the fog, things finally cleared. Since that night on the steps and metro, I've been making it a point to have a bit of time everyday to just think, reconnect and/or study deeper the things of the gospel. I've noticed a change in how I feel, how I treat others and simply view life. And while yesterday started crazy and was a bit off all day, on the way home on the metro the man next to me pulled out his Bible and started to read. I smiled to myself considering the tender mercy, and commented to him about it. His name is Carl, a lawyer in DC who has read many versions of the Bible but is back to the King James version because it seems more pure and unchanged. After a great discussion, at my stop we exchanged his business card for a pass-a-long card for the Book of Mormon. He smiled when I pulled it out and said, "I've never read that but have always been interested to, and curiously enough, the man next to me at work is Mormon." We left on good terms and I really feel he'll do something about our discussion. After all this time, I think I've learned to adjust my "teaching" moments, that I took so often when I first got home, to be less threatening and more real-world, every day moments. When you're open for the Lord to teach you, He will, and He'll give you opportunities to teach too and everyone wins!
