If we will not dance to the music of materialism and hedonism but will remain attuned to the voice of godly reason, we will be led to the green pastures of respite and the still waters of spiritual refreshment. All the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune this world can hurl against us are as nothing when compared to the rewards for steadfastness and faithfulness. It would behoove us all to fix our sights more consistently upon the things which are everlasting and eternal. This world is not our home.
Author Unknown, Valedictory Address, Utah State Prison, as quoted by Jeffrey R. Holland in "However Long and Hard the Road"
The worldly distractions in this life are incredible. The sheer number of them every single second, plus the intensity levels of each one are mind boggling. And that intensity increases as we take a step towards Christ, away from the world. It's amazing, to say the least.
You would think that just knowing why that intensity increases would be enough for me to stop paying attention to those distractions in the first place. However, that opposition, those distractions, can be very tough to ignore.
Those distractions can be as simple as choosing to sleep an extra 30 minutes instead of studying the word of God. Or eating that additional piece of cake. Or watching that rated R movie.
These distractions are fairly meaningless in and of themselves, but they add up. The way Heavenly Father works is by small and simple means to bring about great things. But, the reverse can also be said of the opposition....by small and simple means, are tragic and sad things brought to pass.
Meaning, if we continue to miss scripture study, or prayer, or church and temple attendance, or paying tithing, or keeping the sabbath holy, etc., then we get further and further away from Christ and it gets harder and harder to get back. Not impossible, by any means, but harder. And that's tragic.
Side note... good news is that there is ALWAYS a way back and we have help so we aren't doing it alone. That's comforting.
So, the next time I'm faced with a simple decision, because I'm tired or I don't feel well, I'm going to think twice about making the "easy" choice. There will never be positive growth in "easy".