Finding our focus & balance

A while back, I spoke at a stake YW event designed just for Laurels, entitled, “Bloom where you’re planted.” To start the lesson {and to wake everyone up a bit}, I asked attendees to stand on one foot for 30 seconds. Most wobbled a bit, but everyone in the group made it to the 30-second mark. Then I asked them to try again … this time with their eyes closed. Almost as soon as the timer began, feet flopped down. Everyone bobbled and wobbled, and eventually everyone put down their second foot … that is, all except one. A sister missionary {who was teaching a class later in the conference} remained firmly planted on one foot with eyes tightly shut.

We stood in awe … impressed. Several girls asked, “How did she do that?” The missionary’s answer was even more impressive. The sister said that during the first balancing act, she stared at a picture of our Savior that hung on the wall directly across from her, and she made Christ’s eyes her focal point. When asked to close her eyes, she continued picturing Christ’s face, holding steady eye contact with the image that remained crisp in her mind. By doing so, she maintained her balance.What a striking and symbolic lesson about focusing on our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Her experience reminded me that whatever I’m looking at is what I’ll focus on … and what I focus on makes all the difference in how I choose to balance and prioritize my life. As modern-day women, our plates are full – and we’re often balancing stacks of plates at a time! I can’t imagine the troubles I’d have if I chose to balance my plates in the dark – and I am thankful I don’t have to. Christ is my light (John 8:12) – but I must look to learn. Not just glance or peek at occasionally, but really stare in His direction, burning His image in my mind {and hopefully upon my countenance}.

“I say unto you, can ye look up to God … I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?” (Alma 5:19).

If anyone tries this lesson for FHE or in a class setting, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section below! In the meantime … stare hard at Him!