Catching Butterflies

Last week I had the sweet opportunity to sit down and talk with my Bishop. As we were chatting he said, "Sometimes we would all like to go out and just catch butterflies all day."

Sitting there I thought to myself how lovely it would be to go out and catch butterflies all day long. Continuing in that thought, I realized that that is what I have been trying to do all these years. I have been chasing after so many different kinds of "butterflies" that I am running in every direction.

When I think back to some of my happiest years, it was when I was chasing one or two butterflies. Those "butterflies" were writing and photography. Those are the two pursuits that make me the happiest.

An editor, whom I revere, once told me that I had too many irons in the fire. Not until lately have I truly understood what he meant. I believe I can say now that I "get it."

While I want to chase butterflies, I don't want to chase all the pretty ones in the sky. I want to go for the ones that will bring joy and happiness to my life. Just sitting here writing, the thought came to me that Satan uses pretty butterflies to distract us in our lives. He would have us run ourselves ragged and not focus on those gifts and talents our Heavenly Father has given us. This further proliferates the idea that we aren't "good enough", which is a dangerous path to walk.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a thought-provoking talk in LDS General Conference October 2007 titled, "Good, Better, and Best." In his talk he addresses this concept of having so many butterflies in our lives:

"We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives."

There simply isn't enough time in the day to do all the "good" things; and that is OK. We must learn to discern the things that need to take priority in our lives.

"As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Even though a particular choice is more costly, its far greater value may make it the best choice of all.

"Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet, or reading books or magazines. Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best. When the Lord told us to seek learning, He said, “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom” (D&C 88:118; emphasis added)."

Chasing butterflies can be difficult to discern because they are all so pretty and unique. But as we seeks our Heavenly Father's council, he will help us to know which ones will lead us in the direction we are to go.

I personally am going to seek to simplify my life and chase only a few butterflies. Maybe I will be able to catch my breath and enjoy the beauty of life God has created for me.