Good day Brethren and Ladies,
Once again, I take pleasure in writing to you from the West. I have had an interesting couple of weeks, and would like to share with you some of my revelations.
As many of you know I have had some troubles as of late. Most of which have been, upon reflection, fairly trivial. I can of course say that now that I am moving past them. But as everyone knows, ones problems certainly don't seem trivial when you're in the thick of them.
A brother Mason and good friend of mine has, on several occasions, given me the following advice... "Don't sweat the small stuff." How true that is. Now the only trouble I (and I suspect some of you as well) have, is gaining the proper perspective from which we can figure out which stuff is the small stuff.
If we are lucky, we have good friends who can help us by shedding new light on the situation. Perhaps an act of charity will either help us to start the arduous climb over the problem, or if we're extremely lucky push us right past it. And sometimes, it's recognizing that there are problems which are far worse than ours which helps us to come to terms with our own issues. I know it's a little cliché to say, "There's always someone worse off than you." But man, when you find yourself staring larger problems in the face it really does give you a new found appreciation for your own problems. In these instances, it's important to remember the duty incumbent upon us to relieve the distressed. To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries, and to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the great aim we have in view.
While it's true that an act of charity and brotherly love performed by another can help us through a tough time, it's what we do for others on a daily basis that gives us the ability to maintain an elevated perspective, for which our own problems seem much more managable.
Much love,
Russell M. Jaeger
Senior Warden