“In life, as in business, there has always been a need for those persons who could be called finishers. Their ranks are few, their opportunities many, their contributions great.
From the very beginning to the present time, a fundamental question remains to be answered by each who runs the race of life. Shall I falter or shall I finish? On the answer await the blessings of joy and happiness here in mortality and eternal life in the world to come.” (Thomas S. Monson, “Finishers Wanted,” General Conference, April 1972)
I’m enjoying going back and reading President Monson’s talks from years past. It is striking to me how very applicable talks from 40 years ago can be to us today.
Like everyone else I have a health/fitness/weight loss goal to start the new year. My birthday is the first week of January, so I don’t usually start working on that goal until closer to the middle of January. Starting a new diet is exciting and the first few days of it you feel great about yourself. And then the weekend hits and something yummy creeps in, or you get a winter cold that makes exercising difficult. The difference between the January gym goers and those who are still there in March and April is how they handle the middle part of the journey when things get difficult. When you ineveitably stumble, will you give up or get back up and keep moving forward?
The same is true in our spiritual endeavors. When life gets hard and temptation is strong, when a point of doctrine is confusing or a commandment seems difficult or not-as-crucial, will we finish strong or will we give up? Do we have the power to push through and rely on the faith we once had that led us to Christ in the first place?
I can tell you I may not meet my weight loss goal in the time frame I would like. Fortunately my heart is more committed to the gospel than my body is committed to running. I am determined to finish strong with my Savior by my side. I hope you will be there too.
Meditation and Journaling Prompt: Where can you increase your resolve today?
