Reboot

Sometimes you just have to reset the status quo and start over. It’s like a reboot for your life.

 

Now maybe that sounds a little extreme, but on occasion, that strategy happens to be the only thing that really works. Let me provide a couple examples.

 

When I was writing this story, suddenly my mouse froze and my keyboard was no longer responding. So what do you do in that situation? You can’t move the mouse to investigate the reason and keystrokes do nothing. Hmmm. Maybe if I get behind the computer I can see something has come loose … nada. So I pressed the Power button to restart the computer. And miraculously (to me at least) after the reset everything began working again.

 

Now I happen to have spent my life in technology and though servers run for weeks or months at a time, I also know that on occasion, resetting them allows the boxes to restart loading the applications again in the order they are accustomed to running them. This can remove a host of problems. Programs can build up or get caught in a loop of sorts. Significant amounts of memory and resource demanding applications can be refreshed and returned. 

 

I also realize that dependence on these machines for both business and entertainment makes this strategy infeasible all the time. But on occasion, a reboot or reset the computer can help get everything back on top working order and performing well. In the tech world, we call that maintenance.

 

So if that is true for computers, perhaps it also applies to our lives. When things are not going so well or perhaps we find ourselves struggling to streamline life’s tasks, a sort of a reset in our lives is also warranted. This can come in a variety of ways. Maybe you need a change of pace or different scenery like during a trip.

 

Or perhaps for you refocusing your efforts on a goal or task will provide that sense of direction you are seeking. This is true, but I have also found that frequent occasions to re-evaluate my life and tune-up my relationship with Deity is also refreshing, invigorating, and productive.

 

This occurs at least weekly and involves recommitting to my covenants through the sacrament. Sometimes instances of rededication may occur even more frequently than that. Reassessing our lives and standing before God can help us come closer to him and become the people we have the capacity to be.

 

 

Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. Doctrine and Covenants 58:42

 

So why do we want to come closer to God anyway? Maybe you have heard something like this “There are so many fun and exciting things to do in this life, and I am young. I want to experience all the good things of life before it’s too late.” Yes. I know. Just like the great-and-spacious building enticed many to leave the straight-and-narrow and pursue strange paths to seek happiness and fulfillment through a different method, television and media today are doing very much the same thing.

 

The world portrays fun and beauty and wealth as a means to pleasure, but don’t be deceived. Just as the great-and-spacious building is a facade that doesn’t bring the happiness it professes, neither can sin deliver the things it promises. Anyone who loves you and is interested in what is best for you and your happiness wants all good things for you—here and now as well as in the future. But deceptions in life and tempting shortcuts that look like easy means to happiness now are not the right way to achieve your goal of experiencing lasting joy.

 

That is exactly why we need to come closer to Jesus Christ because He sees the fallacies of this attitude and has provided a perfect way to help us overcome hardship. Then we can experience the real joys of life.

 

Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. Alma 41:10

 

I don’t feel old, but I realize for some of you that may be reading this, I am comparatively ancient. My two grandsons are the joy of this family. Their parents’ perspectives have changed somewhat over the few months they have experienced childrearing. More grandchildren are on their way and my daughter and her husband just recently announced her pregnancy and upcoming delivery. Interestingly, we took family pictures this week, and I had my goal in life reconfirmed… I now know what I want to be when I grow up… a grandpa.

 

 

Joy in your children is only surpassed in seeing their love and excitement as parents. As you see their pride in their children, the tender feelings you have for a family are multiplied over-and-over.

And that is why we want to be close to the Savior because He loves all of us and wants what is best for you and your posterity because you are His family as well. And if the imperfect people that we are with all our flaws and shortcomings want was is good, and right and true for our children and posterity, then he who is the God of the Universe with all things in his hands, truth, understanding, and love certainly wants what is good, and right and true for his children and posterity as well.

 

There is a big difference, however, in that He has the power to provide all those things to us. Now I don’t mean wish for or hope for what is good and right. I mean God has dominion and power over all and can give us blessings to make us happy. And indeed that is just what He has promised us if we will do our best to follow Him and strive to keep His commandments.

 

Out of His love for us, the Savior has overcome every barrier to our return to Heavenly Father, and He delights in the unspeakable joys of eternal life. He provides the good things of life for those who will accept the gift He offers them. He beckons to us “Come follow me” and provides the way so that we can enjoy everything He has.

 

And that really is a joyful noise.

 

Make a joyful noise unto God, Ps. 66:1 (98:4).