Do It Right The First Time

"Bradley, if you're going to do something, do it right the first time." I can still hear grandma telling me that as I wondered how to fix it. Despite her advice, my Jeep was still leaking transmission fluid all over the street. I spent so many hours trying to ascertain the problem. I tried sealing it with spray. Nothing was stopping this leak; however, it wasn't losing too much too fast. It wasn't too big a problem, right? I was getting such a head ache from this stupid thing anyways. It shouldn't be so hard to fix. If only I could figure out what was causing the hose to leak!  I put it off for a few days, but grandma was persistent. "You really need to fix that leak." I still didn't know what to do with it. I tried another temporary solution; sealing it again. Didn't work.

Finally it was a Saturday in the fall, and I was frustrated enough to stay there all day until I figured out what was wrong. I pulled the line off. I checked one side and then the other. I looked at where it connected and... Ah ha!! That's it! There was so much dirt and sand the quick connect fitting (the little plastic clip thing) was stuck open! Only in Canada would they sand the roads so much it would gunk it up! You'd think I took it out digging all the time. In my excitement and haste to clear out the quick connect fitting for the transmission line, I discovered another problem. It had snapped. Now I have to buy a new one. Whatever.

I finally had some direction in repairing the Jeep. Knowing the necessary parts to look for cut my time in half. I ran over to the Canadian Tire, but they didn't have the piece. I searched the auto stores and finally found one that carried it! Huzzah! The Jeep was fixed, and it continued to run the rest of my time living in Canada.

As much as the story could end there, I have so much more to say about this. Life seems to fit into the story of my Jeep and the lesson grandma taught so well. We all have little things causing problems here and there. It doesn't seem like too big a deal; however, if you let them go for too long unrepaired, damages occur. There can be some big repairs to make. Instead of letting them go, identify and resolve problems quickly, but if you are going to fix something, do it the right way. Knowing what the problem is, what is needed to resolve it, and where to go to do so makes all the difference.

My story. I wanted to go on a mission. I had wanted to go since I was a little kid. I am sure some of the sensationalism and culture of my youth affected that, but for me it seemed so much more. There was a purpose in it. I couldn't explain it. I just felt it. I knew it was what I needed. Something beyond me told me that was the path for me to take. 19 came and went. Reality had set in. I couldn't just keep going on as I was. Life wasn't going anywhere and I was really losing hope in so many things. Just like the Jeep, the problem was there. I could see the problem all throughout my life, except the full solution, or maybe I just didn't want to accept it. Standards are established to ensure one is worthy and able to represent the church Jesus Christ established here upon the earth. Guess what. I wasn't living those standards. I had a problem. My spiritual Jeep was running sure, but it was definitely leaking some needed fluids.

Guess what. I made it on my mission! Just like the Saturday I had enough, I finally decided it was time to take this serious and really make a mission happen. I needed to get my problems taken care of. Gratefully with honest evaluation, scripture study and prayer, I identified what the problems were. I learned more of the atonement of Jesus Christ and it taught me how to resolve the problems I created. I also gained a testimony of who it is to whom we need to go; the Savior Jesus Christ. He can fix any problem. He knows us personally. He knows how to repair our issues. He is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6). There is no other real solution to it. We can try all the temporary "fixes" we want, but those don't eliminate the problem.

Only one person had the fix for the piece I had broken. It was Him. He always does. If we want to fix the problems in our lives, we have to do it the right way. This is called repentance. It is a gift made possible through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. It helps me, when I am open and honest with myself, to ask God for the help to change. Hopefully we do it right the first time, but whether it's the first or the millionth, He is still there.

In ways I cant' fully explain, but that are very dear to my heart, I know He can give us strength. He provides the healing we all need. He invites all to "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." I know in learning of Him, we come to know more about ourselves. He has walked the path before us. As we allow Him to help us fix the problems in our lives, they run a lot smoother. There are other problems that arise, but we are more aware of how to address them as they come. They don't disable us, nor render us spiritually incapacitated.