Talk on the Two-Way

I had three good phone conversations last night in what I deemed as answers to a prayer. My thoughts have been dominated lately by doubt, uncertainty, and a little bit of obsession, and each of these conversations helped to clear away some clutter in my mind.

First, I got a call from my mom. I hadn't talk to my mom in what felt like weeks. I love my family. I fear calling them on the phone because they are all interesting individuals and I never have anything interesting to bring to the table in conversation with them. Not to mention, I dislike talking on the phone. Our conversation wasn't anything special, but it felt good to get some motherly love via telephone.

Second, I got a call from a friend in L.A. She had read my post about the abscess and called to ask how things were going, aka to chastise me for not calling her and telling her about it. She called immediately after my mom. Before talking with my momma, I had just finished praying and was lying on my bed reading from Moroni, chapter 10. Ironically, I had challenged her months previously to read Moroni 10 and pray about it. We talked a bit about Mormonism and her feelings about it, and it was exactly what I needed at that moment. I haven't felt like much of a Christian lately, probably because Provo feels more focused on being cool and marriage than on being a Christian. It felt good to talk with someone about scripture, and even though it was brief, I am always inspired by her to consider God in a different way than the one by which I usually consider Him.

Third, I got a call from a friend I hadn't talked to in awhile. She called to tell me that she was planning a humanitarian aid trip to Kenya, and that she would be hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro before the summer was over. After talking for awhile about life and the way of school, I looked at the clock and decided it was time for bed. I was so inspired by our conversation that I laid in bed for a long while and just thought about it.

I hadn't received such a stark answer to prayer in a long time. I could have easily missed it. You have to understand, I hardly ever talk on the phone. I just don't like doing it. My goal once on the phone is to get off of the phone immediately, usually. People know this about me and generally don't call me much, and I apologize for creating that system by my lack of enthusiasm. Please, for anyone reading this, call me more often. It is one of my goals to become a lover of phone conversation. Conversations are the stuff of relationships, and relationships are the stuff of life. I love good conversation and good relationships--so it follows I need to improve my phone usage. Those three conversations have really led to some quality introspection.

Here are some goals I set as a result of last night:

-call at least one person on the phone a day to ask how they are doing

-By February 21st, find a place to devote at least 6 hours monthly of volunteer service

-don't waste time by watching any TV, or reading sports articles

What do I want to achieve through my goals? I want to be able to be inspired frequently to do things for God and my fellow man. At different points in my life I have felt like this, I just hope to extend those points to now and always.

Baby steps, right?