A mission makes no sense. No sense at all. No sane person would want to hop on an airplane, fly thousands of miles to a foreign country, stand in a cold downpour and knock on the door of a stranger only to be told, "No interest!" Yet, here I was in a tiny town somewhere near the western coast of Jutland, drenched, cold and once more rejected.
Why a mission?
At the time of this writing, my son, Mike, is about to submit his papers, notifying the LDS church that he is ready to serve on a mission. We both find it remarkable that the time is coming so soon! As a child, he was taught about what a mission is and encouraged to prepare for it. He has met missionaries from other regions who came to serve in our local church over the years. He has even sung little songs about it when he was young while in Sunday School. But, now he's actually, really, seriously about to go!
Like my son, I prepared for my mission since I was very young. I had a pretty good idea of what was ahead. Still, it comes as a shock when the time draws near, much like the moment when the chains stop clinking and go eerily silent as you reach the summit of that first steep hill on a roller coaster.
Before I married, I remember being counseled to marry someone that is a good friend. There is a thrill at the start of a mission just as there is a thrill at the start of a marriage. But, after the initial thrill is over, there must remain a deeper, greater reason for continuing. For marriage, that means being with someone who is a good friend. After the initial thrill of embarking on a mission subsides, there needs to remain a greater reason and motivation for continuing. This principle applies no matter what type of mission you choose.
Before you go on your mission, ensure that your fundamental reasons for going are sound. In my case, I knew that I had a genuine love for people, a desire to do what is right and a passion to do good things that matter. Love for the people I served grew as I served. This love helped to warm and comfort me throughout my mission.
Do you have a passionate desire to protect freedom? This could be a reason you need to serve a few years in the military.
Do you have great empathy for others who are in desperate need? This could provide the strength you need to serve a few years with a charitable organization helping the poor and destitute.
Do you have an insatiable desire to understand the past? This could be the passion you need to serve for a few weeks or months as a volunteer at an archaeological dig.
If you have a deep, powerful desire, this desire can become a foundation for a mission. Instead of wondering why you serve on a mission, you may begin to wonder how you could not!
I was very confident in my love for others, my beliefs in what is right and in my desires to do good when I was my son's age. I wondered if he had the same feelings. I am pleased to observe his loving actions toward others and his respect and hunger for truth. I am pleased to sense that his desires for truth and to do good for others may even exceed my own.
When can you go on a mission?
There are probably two times when you can go on a multi-year mission during your life. The first opportunity may come just after you have become an adult and just before you start a family and career. The second opportunity may come just after you have raised your family, finished your career and before you lose your health.
Why not devote your entire life to a mission? It's been done by others. Why not you? Many very famous people have done it. In fact, there seem to be many books, plays, movies and such devoted to such individuals. These are often people who have given up their lives in order to pursue their passions. They gave up family, health and perhaps their very souls to do it. Unfortunately, this often results in personal tragedy. In fact, it is often the tragedy that makes these stories dramatic and interesting!
It's your choice of course. But, you can go on a mission without turning your life into a tragedy. You can lead a normal life while still doing great things!
Shouldn't you at least consider giving up everything to do something great? Isn't that what all great people do? Well, not necessarily. While you may need to sacrifice to do great things, sacrificing everything does not necessarily mean you will do something great. For every famous person that devoted his or her entire life to a successful mission, how many do you suppose failed?
For example, some people devote their entire lives to acting. My children see famous, rich actors in the media and begin to think that this is an occupation where wealth and fame come easily. Yet, in reality the vast majority of actors are neither wealthy nor famous!
Similarly, how often have people given up their money, their possessions and even their very lives to suicidal or radical cult leaders? That becomes a tragedy beyond words. In keeping with Skill Balancing, a mission should be a balanced part of your life. You can do great things without ruining your life. Keeping balance in your life will help make a mission fun!
Where can you go on a mission?
You can go literally anywhere on your mission. That's part of the excitement and joy of a mission!
When I got my mission call, I had to find a map to locate Denmark. The location for my mission came as a complete surprise. Yet, when I returned home years later I felt that Denmark had become the center of the world for me. My love for the people of Denmark is deep and continues to this day. Total immersion of yourself into a different culture and environment for an extended time helps you to grow in remarkable ways.
We sometimes muse about where Mike might go. Japan? Russia? Kentucky? Argentina? Ireland? His mother served a mission in Mexico. Other family members have served in such diverse places as Argentina, Dominican Republic and Arizona. We have friends that have served in countries across the planet. It's a small world.
A mission is …
For the purposes of Skill Balancing discussion, a mission is an activity or service upon which you passionately embark and to which you exclusively devote yourself for a significant amount of time.
Sometimes, it is insufficient to do something good for just a little while. Some causes are so worthy of your time and attention that they require more than just a day or a week. Matters of importance may demand weeks, months or even years of full-time attention.
Exclusive devotion means taking steps to ensure that nothing distracts you as you serve. This level of commitment is why it may be best to serve on a mission at a time in your life when you have few commitments that can interfere such as family or career. Otherwise, the demands of a mission may require so much time and effort that family and career would suffer too much.
An element of passion is also critical in your completion of a successful mission. It helps carry you through the more difficult times, when storm clouds gather, when dampness chills you to the bone and doors of opportunity close. In my case, I developed a true devotion and love for the people I had come to serve, even when they shut the door on me.
I traveled thousands of miles by car, by airplane, by train, by bicycle and by foot to give this woman a chance to hear what I had to say. I desired very much to share thoughts with her. That was not going to happen. But, I did succeed in giving her the opportunity. If I had not made the trip, she might not have had that choice. Unselfishly giving her that choice was part of what my mission was all about.
In addition to telling me she had no interest, the lady behind the door complained about having to open the door because of how cold and wet it was outside! As she shut the door, I had to agree with her. She was absolutely right about how cold and miserable it was! Yet, as we walked away I felt warm inside.
-- SKS
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