![]() These core doctrines and principles, though simple enough for a child to understand, provide the answers to the most complex questions of life. The search for the best things inevitably leads to the foundational principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ-the simple and beautiful truths revealed to us by a caring, eternal, and all-knowing Father in Heaven. Oaks, in a recent general conference, taught, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.” 2 They follow the advice “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” 1 In short, they focus on the things that matter most.Įlder Dallin H. ![]() They resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life. The wise understand and apply the lessons of tree rings and air turbulence. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks. Overscheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia-even during times of stress and fatigue. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Let’s be honest it’s rather easy to be busy. One of the characteristics of modern life seems to be that we are moving at an ever-increasing rate, regardless of turbulence or obstacles. When stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be. It may seem logical when put in terms of trees or turbulence, but it’s surprising how easy it is to ignore this lesson when it comes to applying these principles in our own daily lives. This is a simple but critical lesson to learn. Therefore, it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions. The same principle applies also to speed bumps on a road. And most of the time that would mean to reduce your speed. Professional pilots understand that there is an optimum turbulence penetration speed that will minimize the negative effects of turbulence. What do you suppose pilots do when they encounter turbulence? A student pilot may think that increasing speed is a good strategy because it will get them through the turbulence faster. ![]() While planes are built to withstand far greater turbulence than anything you would encounter on a regular flight, it still may be disconcerting to passengers. Have you ever been in an airplane and experienced turbulence? The most common cause of turbulence is a sudden change in air movement causing the aircraft to pitch, yaw, and roll. However, during seasons when growing conditions are not ideal, trees slow down their growth and devote their energy to the basic elements necessary for survival.Īt this point some of you may be thinking, “That’s all very fine and good, but what does it have to do with flying an airplane?” Well, let me tell you. One of the things we learn from studying the growth of trees is that during seasons when conditions are ideal, trees grow at a normal rate. For example, scientists can look at the rings of trees and make educated guesses about climate and growing conditions hundreds and even thousands of years ago. ![]() It’s remarkable how much we can learn about life by studying nature. ![]()
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