Events vs. Processes

The last few months I've been pondering on the differences between processes and events. Here are a few meandering thoughts:

Definitions first:

Event: Something that takes place; an occurrence or happening, a phenomenon located at a single point in space-time

Process: Subject to a process or treatment with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition; To deal with in a routine way, a particular course of action intended to achieve a result.

Too often I wish for things to be events: But it's not to be.

So I've been trying to convince my mortal self to embrace the fact that processes are what life is all about.

A few weeks ago my journal entry says this:

"Struggling this morning with one child's strong display of anger.

What to do?

Then I came upon this passage:

"We did speak unto him the words of the Lord. And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael." (1 Nephi 7:4&5)

So what would the Lord have me speak to my angry one?

He would have me express love.

Love transforms lives. But it is a process. Not an event."

Perhaps that isn't coherent to anyone else but me, but it definitely was one of those enlightened moments. Beyond the insight I was given as to how to act that morning, that tidbit of inspiration also made me realize that I don't want my family's love for me to be an event; nor do I want their forgiveness of my weaknesses to be an event. Nor do I want my love for them to be locked into a single time-space and be over with one occurrence. I should welcome and love processes.

In Elder Scott's talk from conference in October, he says "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." That speaks volumes about processes to me.

Last night when I was talking to my dad about this he said something to the effect of "We don't have many records of Christ's development during his first thirty years. Surely it was a very steep learning curve. He had to learn line upon line just like we do."

Later my mind went to Noah. Building the ark was definitely not an event. Nor was living on the ark. Nor was starting over again when the land was dry. All of those things were processes. Then I wondered what processes Noah (and his wife and family) went through to develop into someone the Lord could ask to complete feats such as crying repentance to unwilling listeners and building an ark and living on the ark with all of the animals. Surely there was a very steep learning curve there too. (All of that made me think of this cute Primary song that I love so much.)

I need to allow the Lord to perfect me; but it will be a process. I can't be any other way.

This is why Elder Christofferson said "We ought to recognize that all honest work is the work of God. . . By work we sustain and enrich life. It enables us to survive the disappointments and tragedies of the mortal experience. Hard-earned achievement brings a sense of self-worth. Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God. A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes menial, sometimes unappreciated but always work that improves, orders, sustains, lifts, ministers, aspires." (Oct. 2010 conference)

Processes are work and work is a process.

So my message to myself is: "Embrace the processes". Allow them to be. Enjoy them. Learn from them. Gain experience. Events don't create the same impact on your character as processes do. Cherish growing experiences. Becoming Christlike cannot be an event, otherwise the whole plan of salvation would be unnecessary.

Embrace the process. . .