Do The Small Things

Do The Small Things

Today I would just like to share with you an experience that actually happened to me a couple of weeks ago. It is such a small incident in the grand scheme of things, but I feel that it is important.

I am a student at Utah State University. I also attend the LDS Institute of Religion, which is just across the street from the main campus. 

One Thursday morning, I was faced with a decision. I was running late for school. I had missed the bus, so the only way I could make it to 
institute was to drive to school. 

Unfortunately, parking on/around the USU campus is ridiculous. A parking permit is required in many parking lots, there is a parking garage that charges a high fee, and then there are the parking meters. There are a few places around campus that have free 1, 3, and 8 hour parking, but it is a rare occasion that you can find a spot there. 

Having had no income for the past three months, I was running short on cash. I did have some change that could be used in the parking meters, but not enough to last me through institute and then my university class.

I had two options:

Option 1 - Drive up to campus, find a spot at the parking meters, go to institute, then I would most likely end up having to skip my university class (risk losing participation points and information) and go home to avoid a parking ticket.

Option 2 - Skip institute. Catch the bus in time to make my university class, no need to spend money at all, I don't miss any participation points or information.

The prophets have counseled us that we need to make institute a priority. That if nothing else, we do what we can to attend. So, I decided to go to institute, park at the meters, and then trust in the Lord that everything would be alright.

I went to institute.

After institute, I walked back to my car and, as I was out of coins for the meter, I started to drive off campus. As I was pulling away from the curb, I noticed (to my great surprise), that there was one 3-hour free parking spot available directly across the street from where I had been at the parking meters. I just about couldn't believe my eyes. I quickly drove around the block and 
pulled into that spot. 

I was able to attend my university class.

This is such a small thing. A parking spot for my car. But, I know that the Lord provided that open free spot for me because I chose to attend institute. Because I chose to follow the prophet's words, even though I thought I was going to miss out on something else that I thought was important. The Lord provided a way for me to attend both classes.

This experience strengthened my testimony that the Lord is aware of us and of every little thing that is going on in our lives. If we are willing to follow his commandments and will, he will bless us.