Polish & Chisel

About a week ago I went to the doctor to have part of my scalp removed so they could perform a biopsy on it for possible cancer. Today I received the good news that my noggin shows no signs of cancer. However, during the week of waiting, I have to admit that I spent some extra time with introspective thinking.

I read the talk by President Henry B. Eyring from this last general conference, Mountains to Climb, in which he tells a story about his mom. He said:

"My mother fought cancer for nearly 10 years. Treatments and surgeries and finally confinement to her bed were some of her trials….One of the speakers at her funeral was President Spencer W. Kimball. Among the tributes he paid, I remember one that went something like this: 'Some of you may have thought that Mildred suffered so long and so much because of something she had done wrong that required the trials.' He then said, 'No, it was that God just wanted her to be polished a little more.'”

This reminded me a lot of our good friend Stacy Geppert who is now in a full scale clash with cancer. At most, she just needs a little more polish. She is among the most Christlike people I know. We don't know what Heavenly Father's will is for her, but we pray for her. She has demonstrated faith and courage, and she is an inspiration to our family.

During this past week, I certainly hoped I wouldn't have to begin a fight with cancer. The thought came to me, and the Spirit seemed to confirm, that I still needed a whole lot more than a little polishing. In fact, I am still very much in the chiseling phase of life. I have a whole lot more molding and carving to do before I'm even ready for that polishing stage. I was reminded of what C.S. Lewis wrote:

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains fixed and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on -- you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you're not surprised. But [then], He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and doesn't seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The answer is that He is building quite a different house from the one you had thought of -- throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage -- but He is building a palace."

I am always inspired by those who just need a little more polishing. I'm a long ways away from that point, but am thankful for the opportunities we all have to progress -- wherever we are -- along the path that will help us accomplish the purpose for why we came to earth.