They say it takes three weeks to make a habit. This morning I began my climb to a 4:30 am rise and shine time. The alarm was set for 6 am, and I resisted, but rose shortly after. Summer sleepins are past.
I woke with that well known, "this is not going to be fun" smirk accompanied by annoying sleepy seeds, and to keep myself up, left my bedroom.
A load of blankets was tossed in the washer, and with cocoa in hand, got out my scriptures and my seminary manual. What I didn't expect, and had forgotten, is how lovely the sky looks at 6 am--with the fading brush strokes of a water color sunrise. Before the hot sun, there's also critter activity and I watched and listened as birds called out good morning to one another while pecking in the grass for long juicy worms.
As I studied, I also felt fed as an early bird. So many thoughts came to mind. As much as I'd read my scriptures, I didn't realize I wasn't fully utilizing them or the teaching tools inside. For example, did you know the triple combination has an index for multiple mentions? There are four individuals named Aaron, and each is listed and described to be distinguished in that index. Along with the place called Aaron. I never knew. I'd never thought much about the additional tools designed for deeper understanding. I'd used the JST sometimes, and the topical guide to search out talks, but I realized I am about to use my scriptures like they'd never been used before, and learn like I'd never learned before. I'm about to be challenged as I've never been challenged before and humbled as I've never been humbled.
I thought I was ready when I was called to teach seminary. I thought this value project of training and preparation for Individual Worth was going to be easy and simple. I was feeling excited and fearless. Now that's changed.
After this morning's study, I realize I am nothing. Nothing without the Lord and His guidance. This is more than teaching youth the Old Testament. Seminary is about the building up of youth for life, and in more than one facet. This is instilling visibility as sons and daughter of deity, realization, confidence, testimony, courage, ability, purpose, goals, desire, and determination, rejoicing, repentance, wisdom, knowing. As the Lord showed that to my mind, I felt the weight of responsibility both beautiful and dense, and to be taken seriously. I now feel like a newly called missionary as at the MTC as I attend inservice meetings and try to learn what my role is and how to teach. The real mission starts just three weeks from tomorrow. I'm not the teacher. I'm the student. It's the spirit that teaches us all, I really witnessed that this morning. I'm excited to get to earn new level scriptural understanding.
Who's excited for seminary? For my graduated seminary friends, what is one of your favorite seminary memories?
