Staying on Course
By Steve and Claudia Goodman

Keep Your Eye on Your Goal

Five-year-old Alex had finally conquered his fear of water and was actually enjoying his swimming lessons.  As he gained confidence in his ability, he discovered a new challenge: swimming the length of the pool in record time.  At first it was exciting just to see how fast he could get there, but eventually he became aware of a boy in the lane right next to him who could swim at least as fast as he could.  Even though the other swimmer was a level above him, Alex was determined to win.  Each day he would gain an early lead in the race to the other side, but he just couldn’t resist looking back over his shoulder to see where the other swimmer was.  As soon as he took his eye off his goal, he would lose speed and veer off course.  Then the other boy would pass him and win.

Alex’s mother could see what was happening from the sidelines.  She urged him again and again, “Alex, don’t look back at the other swimmer.  It makes you slow down and go crooked.  Just keep your eye on your own goal, and you’ll make it.”  Finally on the last day, Alex focused all his will power on the goal at the other end of his lane.  He resisted every temptation to look back at the other swimmer and finally won the race—the race to find himself.

Be Happy with Who You Are

One of the greatest challenges we all face is learning to be happy with ourselves the way we are.  It is recognizing the highest within us and being true to our own desires for righteousness.  It is being able to appreciate the gifts of others without minimizing or belittling our own talents.  There are so many different abilities, and sometimes, as with little Alex, it’s hard not to compare and wish that we had someone else’s talent. The grass often looks so much greener on the other side of the fence.

We may tend to look at others wistfully because they seem to possess all the qualities we wish we had.  We may see them as the life of the party, exceptionally beautiful or handsome, high achievers, skilled performers, powerful leaders, great athletes, fluent speakers, capable managers, or highly efficient workers.  However, for every achievement, there is a counterbalance; otherwise the world would become very off-centered.  If we were all the same, a lot of things would be left undone. 

Shortly after our twelfth child was born, one of our children commented, “Mom, it’s a good thing everyone doesn’t have twelve children.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Because if they did, nothing would ever get done in this world!” 

She was right.  So many gifts require putting other important gifts on the backburner, since they can’t both be performed at the same time.  It’s pretty hard to be a missionary and a high-ranking scholar at the same time; to have twelve young children and be the Relief Society president at the same time; to be the top producer at work and spend hours listening to the problems of others at the same time. 

Focus on Your Own Talents (Instead of Wishing for Someone Else’s)   

In a baseball game, we may be covering one base while other players are covering all the surrounding areas.  It’s the same way in life.  Some people are the center of attention while others admire their jokes.  Some are gorgeous while others are cute and sparkly.  Some are hardworking scholars while others are fun-loving and jovial.  Some are great entertainers while others admire their attainments.  Some are born leaders while others prefer a more supportive role.  Some are great athletes while others enjoy watching and cheering them on.  Some are great talkers and fortunately, others are attentive listeners.  Some get the job done efficiently while others take time to be sensitive to the feelings of those around them.  Some are in a hurry and some have lots of time. 

We must keep in mind also that there are times and seasons.  I have been a Relief Society president, but it wasn’t when I had twelve young children at home!  Each of us may possess all the talents listed above, but it is hard to use all of them at once.  Hence, we all work together as a team, rejoicing in the part we are privileged to play. 

One night our daughter who was away at college for the first time called in tears, saying, “Mom, no one likes me here.  The rest of the girls all hang out together and go do things, but they never invite me.  They never drop by just to talk to me.  Why can’t I be popular like the rest of them?” 

I laughed softly and said, “Oh, you can be popular with them all right!  It’s quite easy, and I’ll tell you how.  First, quit studying so much.  When they come over, sit and talk with them for two or three hours at a time.  That’s what they like to do.  Go to the shows with them at least once or twice a week, even if they aren’t ones you particularly want to see.  And schedule some trips to the mall with them.  You can spend hours buying lots of new clothes, even if you have to dip into your savings to pay for them.  And then…”

“Mom,” my daughter interrupted me.  She was laughing now, too.  Then she paused.  “I guess that’s not really what I want.  They’re good girls doing the things they like to do.  It’s just that I prefer doing other kinds of things.  The things they are doing are not me, and I’d be unhappy trying to be like them.  If I stay true to myself, someday I’ll find someone who feels the same way I do, won’t I?”

And she did.  In fact, she found many people over the next few years who respected her for all that she stood for.  She graduated with top honors from the university, served a mission, and married a handsome young man with a very strong testimony—a companion that she never would have found if she had pursued a different course and tried to be something she wasn’t.   

The Power of Being You     

Satan would have us feel that only the person in the limelight is of worth.  Everyone else is a loser.  In order to be successful, you must be on the top rung of the ladder.  The Lord sees things differently.  When He ate with His disciples at the last supper, they all sat together on the floor.  He was not above them.  The Lord’s arms stretch wide enough to encompass all who will come unto Him. 

One night my husband and I attended a concert at Symphony Hall in Salt Lake City with some friends.  After the performance, they showed us a shortcut out of the building to avoid the crowds.  Suddenly, security guards behind us motioned for us to clear the way.  We stepped aside and looked around to see what was happening.  To our amazement we faced President and Sister Ezra Taft Benson, who were just leaving the concert.  For a moment we were stunned.  Should we move quickly out of the way, pretend we didn’t see them, remain frozen in our tracks until they passed, or give into the wild impulse to rush up and shake their hands?  It was clear that they were just as surprised to see us as we were to see them.  Pres. Benson hesitated only for a moment.  Then his face broke into a smile as he extended his hand to us. 

Whenever I have stood in line to shake hands with a General Authority before, I have listened to the people ahead of me each trying to explain their significance.  “My grandfather served a mission with you.” Or “My sister’s husband lived in your stake when you were a stake president.” etc.  But as I shook hands with President Benson, I understood the Savior’s unconditional love in a way that I had never comprehended before.  The love that emanated from Pres. Benson made it totally unnecessary for me to give him even my name.  It didn’t matter who I was or what I had done.  He loved me because I was me, and because I was a daughter of God.  There was no need to justify my importance.  Tears still fill my eyes whenever I reflect on that moment, when I fully comprehended that just being me is enough.   

Finish Your Course     

Little Alex achieved his goal by keeping his life focused on where he was headed and not being distracted by the talents of the other swimmer.  If we are to accomplish the missions we were sent here to do, we must not waste too much time fretting about the talents of others and how favorably they compare with our own.  Like Alex, we can rejoice in the their achievements, but at the same time stay focused on our own goals.  The scriptures tell us:  “…Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him…”  (2 Nephi 9:41)  Let us pursue that straight course the Lord has outlined for us individually.  Then at the conclusion, we can say, as Paul:  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course [not someone else’s], I have kept the faith.”  (2 Timothy 4:7)  Alex won his race by keeping his eye focused on his goal.  May we keep our eye single to the glory of God and achieve the very highest that is within us—with His help.