Category: 2002

Sufficient Even for Monster Dad

On By Peter WatkinsIn 2002Leave a comment

Dear Will:

It is another typical night in the Watkins house. I have stuff I need to do, and my youngest kids are carrying on in their bedroom, refusing to go to sleep. As I get increasingly annoyed, I also have the increasing inclination to holler at them.

Unfortunately, I’m the sort who all too easily follows such inclinations.  As a result, when the house finally goes quiet I feel like the worst father in the world, and my little ones drift off to sleep with Monster Dad as the final image of their day. It happens pretty often around here. And it always makes me feel awful. It doesn’t seem to matter how many times I promise myself (and my kids) “no more yelling.”  Within a few days I’m back at it, unable to overcome my weaknesses in spite of the best intentions.

Such moments of fallibility often make me think of Simon Peter, a man who all too often failed to make good on his good intentions.  One story about him has seemed particularly relevant to me of late, which of course means that I’m going to foist it upon you as well.

On one occasion, Peter and his fishing partners had worked through the night without catching so much as a minnow. As they cleaned their nets, no doubt frustrated with their failure, Jesus approached. “Launch out into the deep,” Jesus suggested, “and let down your nets for a draught.”

The results were staggering. Literally. The scripture tells us that when they let down their net “they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them.  And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink” (Luke 5:6-7).

Simon Peter’s reaction to this miraculous haul was immediate. We’re told “he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). Of course, rather than departing, Jesus did just the opposite: he invited Peter to leave his boat and his nets at the lakeside and to become instead a fisher of men.

There is an essential lesson here for all of us. Consider what took place: Because he viewed himself as a “sinful man,” Peter tried foolishly to keep Jesus out of his life. Even in the face of an overwhelming miracle, Peter’s own sense of guilt and unworthiness caused him, as if by instinct, to ask Jesus to depart from him.

Such is the nature of sin, isn’t it? It fills us with self-doubt, making us feel unworthy even of that which requires no worthiness. The trouble is, we know ourselves too well, don’t we? Deep down in our hearts we know that God knows, that He’s onto us.

At the same time, the great promise of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that through Him even I can overcome my shortcomings. I must put my faith in Him and in His Atonement, believing as I do so that in the end “his grace is sufficient” to make up that huge gap between what I should be and what I am.  The scripture says:

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.   (Ether 12:27)

I certainly hope that’s true. And, I suppose, so do my kids.

PW

So Run

On By Peter WatkinsIn 2002Leave a comment

Dear Will:

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting very little done these days because of the Olympics.  My big window of opportunity to get in some extra credit productivity is after the kids go to bed (8:30 or 9:00), but these days I use up that time watching slaloms and salchows.  I am enjoying it thoroughly, but it will be nice when it’s all over and I can start checking items off of my to-do list again.

For my money the most exciting event is the short-track speedskating.  I don’t know if you’ve seen this event, but it combines tactical nuance with speed and agility.  It’s very gripping.  The single event that I enjoyed the most, however, was the men’s cross-country skiing relay (I’m sure it has some official name, but I don’t remember it).  In case you missed it, apparently Norway and Italy finished inches apart in each of the last two Olympics, so this year was the big grudge match.  Sure enough, as they came into the final leg of the relay, Italy and Norway were in a virtual tie for first.  Kilometer after kilometer the two racers remained that way, playing a sort of cat-and-mouse game.  In the end it came down to a frantic, exhausting sprint for the finish, with the Norwegian pulling away ever so slightly in the final 100 feet.  It was great drama, amazing athleticism, natural suspense.  I loved it.

I almost felt my own muscles tightening as I saw those two skiers strain toward the finish line.  I had trouble remaining in my seat.  I imagined the powerful emotions each athlete felt as he gave all he had to win out.   Failure was clearly not an option; both for country and for self, victory was a necessity, and each Olympian seemed bent on achieving that end no matter the cost.  For me, it was an inspiring moment.

There is, of course, a universal language in sport, especially when it involves the simple premise of trying to win a race.  Even non-athletes understand the notion that victory over formidable foes can only be had through dedication, sacrifice, and complete commitment to achieve.  Those who try any less cannot expect to wear the victor’s crown.

It was with that understanding in mind that the apostle Paul penned these inspiring lines to the Corinthians some 2000 years ago: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?  So run, that ye many obtain.   (1 Corinthians 9:24)

In these few words, Paul is reminding each of us that we should live our lives in such a way that we may obtain the ultimate prize: eternal life.  He makes it clear that in striving for eternal goals, we cannot afford to be casual and merely hope for the best, but rather we should “run” as if to win.

May we each take personal inspiration from these fine athletes as we ponder the things that matter most.

PW

Someone to Tuggle Wiff

On By Peter WatkinsIn 2002Leave a comment

Dear Will:

We live just off of Cannon Street, about a block south of Linda Vista School.  If you have ever walked along Cannon on the Linda Vista side of the hill, you know that the wind whistles down the street at a pretty good clip, even on a relatively calm evening.  On a blustery night like this one, however, the wind comes rushing over the pass and through our backyard like it’s about to miss the last train out of town.  Whenever that happens, the wind chimes push and shove each other to try to get out of the way, the fichus gets trampled and dry leaves start to huddle together beside the shrubs like accident victims looking for moral support.  The sound can be impressive, and with very little imagination you can start to feel a little like Dorothy Gale just before she took her unscheduled trip to Oz.

Of course, usually the source of such turbulence is the Santa Anas, which warm the air and make you feel as if spring has come early.  Tonight, however, it’s a cold wind, sent with love from Canada, and I’m having trouble reconciling the sights and sounds with the temperature.  We don’t get cold winds around here, so it’s creating some mental dissonance for me that is intriguing.  (Can you tell I’m not outside writing this?  I’m sure if I were out rescuing the fichus like I’m supposed to be, dissonance is not the word that would come to mind.)

I stop typing and head upstairs to tend to a fussing two-year-old.  “I think I’m sad,” Seth tells me.  When I ask why he explains that he needs somebody to snuggle with, or as he puts it, “someone to tuggle wiff.”  I indulge him ever so briefly (he and I have already had our goodnight tuggle for the night) and suggest he cozy up with his stuffed elephant instead.  I sneak out.

While I may be a little annoyed by the interruption, I have to admit he’s pretty cute.  I also have to admit that his instincts are absolutely correct.  When the world goes strangely cold and everything about us is thrown into disarray, it’s good to have something familiar to reach for.  (You had to wonder how I was going to turn this into a “message,” didn’t you?)  In such moments, I often find myself on my knees in prayer or reaching for the scriptures.  One verse in particular is a comforting reminder of where strength can best be found when the storms of life strike hard:

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you , it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.   (Helaman 5:12)

At last, Seth goes quiet, and with reluctance I face the task of moving the fichus to the side of the house.  As I venture out into the windstorm, I shall do my best not to get blown into the neighbor’s swimming pool.  Before I sign off, let me remind you of my sincere offer to help you if I can should the wind ever prove too strong for you.  I would welcome a phone call or an e-mail any time.

PW