Chapter 60: Do the Things

I begin with a sigh of resolution.

The time has come that I must write this in a single train ride (actually, I think I’ve mentioned that like five times before, but NOW is when I need to actually ACTUALLY follow though and hit send by the time I reach the last stop).

This is already a task ill fitted the author of the last 59 emails-turned-essays, and that was BEFORE I got talking with someone for half the ride home, leaving no time at all!

So, how can I sum this up in one paragraph?

I can’t.

Well I could, but we’re gonna settle for a handful.

If y’all had a nickel for every time I’ve written out this inner battle at the start of an email, you’d probably have enough for a candy bar or something. Maybe for a presta-schrader bike pump adaptor—they’re like one to two dollars. Aaaand I’m procrastinating. Let’s go.

Actually—thankfully—not a lot happened this past week storywise. My bike has been trying to give up the ghost, and I’ve been equally trying to convince it that it’s still in the prime of its life. Wait, is that a description of my bike, or me? Anyways, with one tire change (without a tire lever, I might add) and a session of myself and three other missionaries simultaneously fiddling with the derailer, we’re comfortably functional.

Beyond the bike, I had interviews with my service mission leaders on Wednesday and we had a combined zone council on Thursday. We’ll now be holding one of those every six weeks. With zone conference every six weeks as well, our zone will be together on a three-week rotation, which is an awesome step in our leadership council’s vision of better uniting the zone. I also love having all our SMLs in the same room.

Zone “”p-day”” activities are getting better established as well, with a fire pit in one elder’s backyard this past Saturday and another shenanigan in the works for the coming Saturday.

As far as assignments go, we’re starting up a new communications campaign at the Global Services Department, so we have our work cut out for us (thing is, we already DID), I’m working on creating a new media team position (which means I need to train someone on it…aaaaah), the temple’s lovely as always (I’ve also got a new position on the horizon there), and we had a great visit with a returning member on Friday.

At present, I’m more in apply-what-you-know mode than spiritual-insight mode, so I shall just share a scripture that helped me reaffirm that yesterday:

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17)

I’m sparing you the monologue, so this is the bottom line;

Remember, “What am I actually doing in my life to keep the Spirit with me, and how often?”

God be with you,

Elder Tolman

:)

Picture:

•A spontaneous selfie in the office when I realized I only took goofy videos this past week.