The Need from my Knees

As many of you know I have a tendency to hurt myself, specifically my knees. I tore my right ACL my senior year of high school and have had a denial filled relationship with some of those same ligaments in my left knee for the past 3 years. Due to poor timing, and me simply being a wuss (I remember vividly the hassle it was to have the right one repaired) I have put of seeing a doctor about my knee. Last night I dressed up as Mary Poppins and attempted to do a little jump. Well when I landed, my knee collapsed. This caused a bit of pain, a rather long silence in the room, and a couple awkward explanations throughout the night. No big deal, it has happened many a time and I am pretty used to the drill. Here's the deal, it still hurts quite a bit. Which means I AM calling a doctor tomorrow and will submit to the reality that I am not Mary Poppins, I can not fly, and am not even theoretically perfect in every way-this last one was rough on my ego.

It also means I am presently avoiding long walks. Let it be known that I have a great many sets of many great friends. They were willing to help me get home and were concerned about how I would get to church. I assured them that my right knee still functioned and I had an automatic transmission. As I drove to church this morning I recognized an issue and immediately became concerned. I could drive, and I could park...but could I walk from where I was parked. The institute parking lot is not very big and our ward meets second. This means we are usually forced to park in the garage across the street. I drove down Mountain and looked at a packed lot, not an empty slot. I decided to pull into the lot anyway maybe I missed a space. I hadn't. I decided I would just have to head to the garage. Then at the very last second, the very last car in the parking lot pulled out and left. I am not usually a fan of people skipping out of church early but I was a fan today. I quickly pulled into the spot and looked up in gratefulness and said a little thank you.

I walked a short distance inside and began greeting people. that's right I am the equivalent to the old guy in Walmart who used to hand out smiley face stickers (question: where did this guy go, do any of them still exist). Fellow-shipping Committee Co-chair. As I shook hands I was talking to the Elders who were also greeting people. I mentioned how I was grateful to get my parking spot and said if I was Levi I would have built an alter and made a sacrifice. One missionary turned to me and said, well good, you get to in about 15 min. Wait, you are totally right. I am going to take the sacrament.

I have a deep appreciation for the sacrament and have often considered it a blessing. We talk about renewing our baptismal covenants and becoming clean again. Working towards perfection. Remembering our Savior. Today I realized it is more than that. It is also I way to say thank you not only for the atonement, but also for the small tender mercies that the atonement provides us every day.

When I took the sacrament I said a little thank you for the short walk from the parking lot. My Savior is well aware of the pain I am feeling in my knee, he has felt it. I could have walked from the garage, it would not have been comfortable, but I could have done it. However, our father hears our thoughts. He knows the desires of our hearts. And through the Atonement of Jesus Christ he is perfectly aware of all the pain that we feel. Because of this awareness I truly believe I was granted a closer parking spot. Cheesy, yes. Minuscule, absolutely. BUT important to me. How blessed I am that I have church to go to every week. That I can build that alter by spiritually preparing myself to take the sacrament. How blessed I am that my Lord has already made that sacrifice.      


I am also grateful that I don't have to do the kneeling at the alter, if that was the case my sacrifice would have to have been postponed.