New Year, New Neighbor

I've been asked a lot over the last few years why I've chosen to pursue optometry as a career. While there are multiple reasons to explain why I've decided on that specific discipline, I think that sharing why I decided to pursue a career in healthcare in the first place might be worthwhile.

My freshman year I was a geology major. In particular, I wanted to be a paleontologist, an idea for which I probably drew inspiration for from Jurassic Park and Ross Geller from Friends. I couldn't think of anything better than going out on digs, making great discoveries, and then writing about and publishing my findings. I still daydream about that some days. At the same time, however, I was also preparing to serve a mission for the LDS Church. A few months after my freshman year, I left to serve in Puebla, Mexico. Frequently I would be asked what I wanted to study when I got home, and for the first year and a half I would tell them I wanted to be a paleontologist (it probably took me that long to learn how to pronounce it in Spanish anyways). As I continued to serve the people around me though, something was happening inside of me. I found that as I put others needs in front of mine I focused less on my own pain and hardships. I was so much happier than when I simply tried to do things for my own sake. It was then that I started to theorize that I needed to find a job that allowed me to help and serve others every day. That would bring true happiness and meaning into my life. I started thinking about what I could do and then we started teaching an optometrist in the city of Izucar de Matamoros. I took interest, and started looking into what I needed to do. It’s all been downhill (well sort of) since then. 

                                           (Slightly cheesy, but I liked this)

I still love paleontology and I'll be getting my minor in geosciences because I've wanted to learn more about it. It will continue to be a hobby and an interest of mine. I'm even sure that I would've had many opportunities to serve others in any field I would've chosen, but for me the right choice was to move towards healthcare. I look forward to being able to individually help people every single day, because I know that will help me to look outside of myself and be truly happy.

In Matthew chapter 4 we read that Jesus, after fasting for forty days, was tempted by the devil three times. He resisted all three temptations and the devil left him. Now, can we imagine being in his shoes? We would be unbelievably hungry and thirsty, and we would probably be exhausted from having to put up with Satan. Right? What would be the first thing we'd want to do? Probably eat, sleep, and drink. Maybe we would look for someone to comfort us? In any case, we would most likely not be thinking about helping anyone else. In fact, verse eleven tells us that angels came and ministered unto Jesus. Jesus received the relief and comfort he must have been yearning for, right? Actually, the Joseph Smith Translation, an inspired revision of the Bible done by Joseph Smith, suggests that the verse be read as follows:

JST Matt. 4:11–12 "And now Jesus knew that John was cast into prison, and he sent angels, and, behold, they came and ministered unto him [John]. And Jesus departed into Galilee …"

Or in other words, the first thing Jesus did after his harrowing experience with the devil was send help to his friend, John the Baptist. He knew that John would be suffering in prison, so he sent angels to comfort him. He was too busy thinking of others to worry about his own problems. This is consistent with Christ's character throughout the scriptures.

(One of favorite examples of the Savior, with the man at the pool of Bethesda)

You may have already heard, but the President of the LDS church passed away yesterday. He was a man I looked up to in a lot of ways. He reminded me a lot of my great grandpa. Always looking out for others and always finding a way to serve. He was called as a bishop at the age of 22, as a mission president at the age of 32, and as an apostle at the age of 36 where he served until he passed away at the age of 90. Few lives could parallel such a one as his in terms of ecclesiastical service. It was, however, the small, individual stories of service that stuck out to me the most. As a young bishop he presided over more than eighty widows in his ward. He did so faithfully, and over the years he attended the funerals of every single one of those widows. He's a man we recognize as a prophet of God. I believe a true prophet not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk. He doesn't just say what Jesus said, he does what Jesus did. President Monson fit that mold perfectly. He will be dearly missed.

I know that when we serve others, in whatever capacity we are able, we find true meaning and purpose in our lives. I know that God made us that way for a reason. If you're having a tough time or are struggling with some of life's many problems, I want to invite you to look around you. I guarantee that there are others with struggles who need help too, and by reaching outward and doing what you can, both of your burdens will be lightened. Find ways to enrich the lives of others, and you'll find that your own life has been brightened along the way. Jesus Christ lives and he has set the example for us. Everything that he did was for the benefit of others. We will be blessed as we strive to emulate his character in our own lives.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

An excerpt from Elder Quentin L. Cook's October 2008 General Conference address, about President Monson (Maybe a good New Year's Resolution?):

When our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, was asked on his birthday this past August what would be the ideal gift that members worldwide could give him, he said without a moment’s hesitation, “Find someone who is having a hard time, … and do something for them.”

(President Monson)