The Great Test

Life is kind of hard, don't you think?

I took a test last week. I got 64. 64 out of 100. You're probably thinking, "That sucks" or "You probably shouldn't be sharing that."

I also knew ahead of time that it's a hard class, which I think is why I was able to score so "high". I worked hard for this test! I spent almost 2 weeks of nothing but studying. (I never study on Sundays. I promised one of my brothers a few years ago I wouldn't.) I took a small reading break but besides that there was a lot of studying involved. All I got was a 64. That's barely over half.

What if I told you most people score about 45 or under? Changes things a little. As I mentioned, I knew ahead of time this would be a hard class. Lot's of people complain, saying the teacher should change his ways. (It has been said he is the toughest teacher on this subject in the west. I actually really like him.) It's Intro to Anatomy and Physiology. Don't understand? How would feel knowing your doctor's education was lax? It's a simple introduction class, but these are the basics. If he cheaped out on the basics, do you really want him working with you? I work with a lot of brilliant doctors on account of being a medical mystery myself. They are sharp, brilliant cookies! And they have to be. Health affects all aspects of your life.

But I'm getting off topic. What does this have to do with life? With being home on a medical release? Well, that test was hard! But it wasn't REALLY REALLY hard. It could have been. It could have been stressful. On a dramatic, slightly over-exaggerated level it could have been fatal.

I actually really enjoyed it. It was almost fun! Because I knew ahead of time it would be hard, I was able to just breeze through the test. I studied sufficiently enough that if I didn't know the answer, I didn't know it and moved on.

Life is that way. It can be hard, or it can be REALLY REALLY hard.

Heavens knows none of us are perfect. A seminary substitute teacher use to say, "Ain't nobody in this room been twinkled yet!" (twinkled: to be translated, made into a celestial being) If you look back at your life you will have no problem seeing how the gospel has made life easier for you. Simply knowing has an affect on trails. It makes your Everest seem like a sledding hill. If I didn't know this class was going to be so difficult, I would have freaked out, stressed out, and maybe even tapped out. The test would have been a very different experience, no doubt resulting in a lower score.

We make mistakes, but the atonement allows us to learn from them and move forward, getting a better score. The grading curb is individual! How great is that?!

The best part, life is an open book test.