M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

The Onion Skins and Egg Shells of Life
by Lynn Harbertson

Conveniently placed under most kitchen sinks is one of the truly helpful inventions of the modern age. When we wash or rinse dishes, prepare meals, or can fruit, it makes short work of the leftovers that find their way down the drain. It is appropriately called a disposal.

What a time saver it can be and yet what a nuisance if something goes wrong; reminding me of our computers which when working right can make us look like geniuses, but when something goes amiss most of us immediately fall back into the ranks of the "also-rans".

Not too long ago, something went wrong with our disposal, l and I found myself fishing around in the cylinder trying to determine why it wouldn't grind and flush the food particles through as usual. Straining to get my hand through the narrow neck, I could just barely touch the impellers with my finger tips. After a few minutes of serious straining, coupled with fighting off the feeling that somehow those blades might just find reason to start whipping around again (I know, I should turn off the fuse first), I was finally able to determine the cause of the problem; onion skins and egg shells.

The whirling impellers are set so they almost touch the bed of the cylinder but to avoid friction and wear there is left a very small space. Most foods cannot get into the space so they are ground up and flushed out without incident. Onion skins and eggshells can be quite different. Because they are so thin they can work their way into the space beneath the blades and if not extracted, can gum up the works. In fact they may even plug up the system so completely that none of the other foods can be properly eliminated and the entire purpose of the machine is defeated.

Metaphorically, each of us has onion skins and egg shells to deal with in our life; those things that have a way of surreptitiously gumming up the works and keeping us from functioning as the Lord would desire.

Many of the "little" things are so common-place and seemingly innocuous, that we can easily forget that they exist and consequently they slip under our defensive blades and keep us from expelling and deleting the garbage to which we are constantly exposed.

In a recent general conference address President Uchtdorf told a story about the tragic crash of a commercial airliner simply because of the malfunctioning of a 20 cent light bulb. The lesson he was teaching us differs from the theme of this article; nevertheless, the event serves to emphasize the point that small things can make a huge difference.

Elder Joseph Wirthlin of the Twelve made this observation:

"I have been impressed recently with the thought that this life is made up of little things—little things that count a great deal. I believe that the little things are of great importance in our relationship with ourselves, in our relationship with others, and in our relationship with God."

So what are these small things of which we speak? Here are a few to consider.

Idle words — In the hymn "Nay Speak No Ill" we are reminded of the need to govern our tongue;

"Nay speak no ill; a kindly word can never leave a sting behind; And oh, to breathe each tale we've heard is far beneath a noble mind."

It is so tempting to walk the path with someone who denigrates another in his or her absence or "breathe each tale we've heard..."

Idle thoughts — Our family has come to recognize that even with the G-rated movies shown on television there often comes a completely inexcusable set of PG-13 commercials. By subtle and not so subtle innuendo, play on words, body language and dress (or lack of it) we are subjected to information and concepts that are subversive and derisive as with regard to our efforts or desires to be blessed with the companionship of the Holy Spirit.

We have been warned time and again by our leaders that these kinds of seductive exposures, whether by way of movies, books, computers, or any such medium, will always be there and we need to develop a response that will free our minds from thoughts that can canker the soul if not expunged.

Cheerlessness and impoliteness — Have you noticed that people who are cheerful are almost always polite? It's as if the two qualities are inexorably connected. By the same token, it seems that one who is disgruntled can usually be counted on to be abrupt and discourteous.

When I was just a lad, I had several older uncles (in their fifties and sixties) and among them were two who's deportment could be described in a manner recalling Dickens' introduction to The Tale of Two Cities; to be with one was to experience the best of times; to be with the other felt like the worst of times.

One always acted happy to see me and to have me sit on his lap where we shared tales and gibberish and a tickle or two. . At the end of our time together he would pull out a penny, and I would gladly do my part to get it — give him a big kiss.

The other uncle seldom talked to me, and when he did, it was often to criticize or to give me the uncomfortable impression that I was needed elsewhere. I was afraid of him and knew my parents would get a negative report of my behavior while I had been in his company.
It is my belief that a person who is cheerless has not overcome fear and has not placed his/her trust in God. We read in Doctrine and Covenants, 68:5, this important promise from the Savior,

"Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you;"

When we take Him at His word our countenance will most assuredly reflect the good cheer that His Holy Spirit engenders.

Dishonesty in the little things — Little white lies; exaggerations; light-fingered pilfering; skimming work time; winking at the rules of driving. These are a few of the areas of behavior that seem to test us as we interact with our brothers and sisters.

In an article published in the New Era, entitled, "Be Honest With Yourself", President Howard W. Hunter gives an account of a young man who had trouble with being honest.

"I recall a young man who was in our stake when I served as a stake president. He traveled around with a crowd that thought it was smart to do things that were not right. On a few occasions he was caught in some minor violations. One day I got a call from the police station and was told he was being held because of a traffic violation. He had been caught speeding, as he had on a few other occasions prior to this time. Knowing the things he was doing might prevent him from going on a mission, he straightened up, and when he was 19 years of age, he received his call.

I shall never forget the talk we had when he returned. He told me that while he was in the mission field he had often thought of the trouble he had caused by the mistaken belief that the violation of little things was not important. But a great change had come into his life. He had come to the realization that there is no happiness or pleasure in violation of the law, whether it be God's law or the laws that society imposes upon us. He said to me, "When I drive a car now and the speed limit is 55 miles an hour, I feel it is morally wrong to drive a single mile faster."

President Hunter then really brought the doctrine home when he said,
"Each lie, each deception, each act of dishonesty combines to create a monster that can destroy your character and your life."

We are blessed with the definitive word of the Lord on many of these issues as found in the scriptures, the words of present-day prophets, and the publications of the church. As added blessings we are promised the Holy Ghost as a constant companion so far as we want it and answers to prayers as we earnestly seek them.

Each of us has shortcomings that mar perfection. Yet our desire to become like unto the Savior provides us with the possibility to do just so. When life's onion skins take the form of verbal carelessness or loss of control about the thoughts we harbor, we yet have hope through Him. Even as the egg shells of dishonesty or grumpiness creep into our lives we may wash them out by following Jesus' counsel to repent and come unto Him. And in all things where we do err there is hope to be cleansed by He who has washed our sins in His blood.

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