My friend Don King (No, not THAT Don King)

I'm just gonna be real with you guys... One of my least favorite things to do is give service. Seriously. I remember telling a mission companion I didn't want to do service during the week because it was a waste of time and boring. He probably thought I was some heartless heathen. I know though that whenever I do give in and go serve someone it's an amazing experience. It's just hard for me to actually go do it!

So fast forward to November 30th of last year. The church was just starting to launch this new Christmas initiative all about serving other people and doing good acts every day leading up to December 25th and what not. I had also just given a talk about losing ourselves in service to others and I really felt like I needed to find someone to serve. I of course have a myriad of formal opportunities to serve in my church callings, home teaching, etc. Sometimes, however, unstructured service is a lot more important than what we do at church. Actually, anyone can put on a suit or a dress and go to meetings all day on sunday. True christlike service  is a part of us. Jesus Christ always found small ways to serve those around because he loved them and that's what mattered most to him, even though he had many administrative duties to attend to.

Obviously, I was lacking in the service department, and that needed to change. So on November 30th I walked outside my house, and lo and behold, a man in a wheelchair struggling to throw away some trash. I of course ran over and threw the trash away. Patted myself on the back, and felt better. That's what a true christian is supposed to do, right? Now I was ready for Christmas! Now I wouldn't feel so bad when I drove past the people begging for money, because I had already done my christlike service for the day. Bam. Good to go.

Hopefully you pick up on my sarcasm and don't stop reading there. I don't quite remember why, but a few days later I went back over to the mans house. I found out his name was Don King and that he was actually a pretty interesting guy. We initially hit it off because he likes Star Wars just like me. So we just nerded out about Rogue One for a little while. Eventually, I started going over pretty routinely after school/work. He talked me into watching Star Trek as well as star wars, and now I'm a borderline trekkie. If you see pictures of me at a Star Trek convention wearing Vulcan ears anytime soon... Blame it on Don. Haha. Essentially, Don and I have become really good friends. His service dog of EIGHTEEN YEARS just passed away before I met him, and needless to say he has been very lonely. I'm very grateful that he is in my life because I have been given the opportunity to serve and I really think that I've been helpful to him at this time in his life.

Still. I haven't been feeling very Christlike. Quite the opposite really. This semester I seem to be constantly stressed and constantly snapping at people. I've been ready to argue about every little thing and subsequently drive the spirit away almost on a daily basis. A lot of good things are happening too of course, and I've done a lot of great things. I won't be too dramatic because life is good. But there has been the slightest element of inner peace missing from my life. And to be honest a lot of times that I've gone over to see Don, its felt almost obligatory. Like since I don't feel the spirit right now, I should probably go see Don and see if he needs any help or something like that. That way I'll feel better.

Well yesterday I was in a particularly grumpy mood, but I had plans to go with Don to help him pick out a new puppy at the Humane Society. So I went, just kind of forcing a smile on my face and doing my best to help him have a good time. Unfortunately, we got there and they had not opened yet. That was kind of sad, but we just loaded up the car and started to head home. Then he asked if he could treat me to breakfast. I hesitated because I had a pretty busy morning, but I eventually said yes. We drove to Mimis Cafe and talked about Star Trek the whole time. I got to learn a lot more about him and listening and talking to him helped me to put my own life into perspective. He's been through so much, I was still all in my feels and feeling grumpy, but he didn't care. He was just so happy to have someone to talk to. And so was I actually. I didn't realize how much I appreciated Don until yesterday. I know that I matter to Don, and he knows that he matters to me. As unlikely a friendship as this might be, it's exactly what both of us need right now.

The moment I started to recognize Don as simply a friend, and not just a way for me to check off my daily service, was the moment I started to recognize that Christlike feeling I was looking for. I can help him and he can help me. I don't believe Jesus Christ helped people simply because they needed help or because he knew it was a duty of his. He did it because he loved them. He spent time with them because he wanted to spend time with them, not because he thought that he had to. He  knew he was the Son of God yet he never saw anyone as less than him. He saw their potential as children of God as well, and I believe he approached every situation knowing he could get as much from them as they could from him.

Basically, as we serve others, we should look for what blessings they have to offer us as well. I don't know how effectively the Lord can help or bless us if we view his children as simply an opportunity to serve. I do believe that Christ can work in relationships where two people view each other as equals and are both looking to help each other in anyway they can. I believe they call that symbiosis.

Anyways. Don King is a very positive influence in my life. I'm sure over the summer we'll become even better friends!