Chasing Squirrels or Finding a Truth
By Michael O’Brien of Manassas, VA, USA
You who are my disciples must be found continuing in the forefront of those organizations and movements which are recognizing the worth of persons and are committed to bringing the ministry of my Son to bear on their lives. —Doctrine and Covenants 151:9
Our dog Millie is 8 years old (56 in dog years). She has chased squirrels all her life and has never come close to catching one. Millie is a smart dog. (All dog owners know their dog is the smartest dog in the world.) However, she continues to chase them around the yard only to meet the same result. The squirrel scampers up a tree, and we find Millie peering up into the unreachable branches.
For dogs, chasing squirrels is instinctive and healthy, but for people it is fruitless. Some of us, as smart as we are, continue to chase “squirrels” which we cannot catch. Prestige, position, or wealth is elusive and can never satisfy the heart of humans. Solomon spent his life chasing worldly possessions. In the end, he decided our duty is to fear God and keep the commandments.
Augustine captured the essence of this truth when he said that God made us for himself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in God. Hundreds of years before that, the prophet Jeremiah wrote in a similar fashion, “When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
God calls us to be in the forefront of organizations that honor the worth of persons. We will feel affirmation as we search for God, but never too full of God. Tomorrow God will call us to a new and deeper intimacy, so a lifetime of seeking the Divine will be mysterious, yet fruitful.
Prayer for Peace
Mysterious God, when we seek shallow and unworthy goals, burst on our awareness with a glimpse of what matters most. May our hearts fill with love as we take on Christ’s mission as our mission.
Spiritual Practice: Making Responsible Choices
Prayerfully seek God’s guidance in your choices. The practice of discernment invites us to orient our lives toward God and God’s vision for us and creation. Begin by reviewing the responsibilities and opportunities in the day before you. Take these choices into prayer, asking God for wisdom and insight about what matters most.
Peace Covenant
Today, God, I will put aside chasing power, prestige, and possession and allow your Spirit to guide my choices.
