The Difference of a Few Degrees
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Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf in his book The Gospel At 30,000 Feet speaks of the impact the difference of a few degrees can make. He points out “the difference between happiness and misery … often comes down to an error of only a few degrees.” He illustrates this point with a lesson he taught to young pilots:
“Suppose you were to take off from an airport at the equator, intending to circumnavigate the globe. But your course was off by just one degree. By the time you returned to the same longitude, how far off course would you be? An error of only one degree would put you almost 500 miles off course, or one hour of flight for a jet plane!”
I have found this to be a very profound aspect of life. Elder Uchtdorf explains that “small errors or minor drifts … can bring sorrowful consequences into our lives.” I have also found the opposite to be true: A few degrees of correction or affirmative choice can produce incredible positive results! We have all experienced turning points in our lives that have resulted in fantastic outcomes. Often those turning points are as thin as the tin of a cupboard hinge, but the outcomes are as strong as the steel of an aircraft carrier deck hatch.
What impact on our lives can we make by making minor but calculated adjustments to our health and wellness, especially when doing so 3 months after making (and most likely breaking) our resolutions and goals to take better care of ourselves?
What impact on the life of a youth could we have by instilling in them decision making skills based on the For The Strength of Youth program?
How much warmth and comfort could be given by the simple decision to help support or sew “angel gowns” for people burying a stillborn child with the help of a charitable organization that organizes such a loving act?
One of my most favorite cartoon clips is a “Far Side” panel of a herd of sheep, with one member of the herd standing up, exclaiming, “Wait! Wait! We don’t have to be just sheep!” The message I’ve taken from this is that we do not need to expend massive effort to make a huge difference
(Alma 37:6). This one sheep simply made a decision to stand up and become much more than his counterparts. We can do the same thing. Through simple positive course changes, “A matter of a few degrees…”
Thank you for your simple but impactful decision to read and support The Arizona Beehive Magazine.
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