A Lesson in Humility

Today started out wrong. I was experiencing what I like to call the 'post Conference blues'. I might be imagining this, but the Monday after General Conference is THE hardest day for me. It's down right horrible. I'm in a bad mood and it seems nothing goes right. So it was today. I was sad. This morning I was so sad. I didn't want to do anything. Totally one of those climb 'back in bed and pull the covers over your head' kind of mornings. I don't consider myself a quitter, so I got up and went to work, but had a sour attitude all day. Shawn had purchased tickets to a benefit concert for tonight...and even though bands/musicians I liked were going to be there, I didn't feel like going. I would have to rush to get my work done so I could hurry home. I started to think, maybe Shawn should just go, or call one of his friends to take my ticket because I am just not in the mood for this! We didn't really get to eat dinner-I was feeling ugly and gross-but we went.

I am so glad we went.

The concert was called, "Living for Eden" and it was a benefit concert for Paul Cardall. It was amazing. Paul suffers from a congenital heart disease. Last year his heart started to fail and he was put on the organ donor list...to await a heart transplant. He is still waiting.

The sole purpose of the concert was to raise money to help Paul and his family (his wife and little girl Eden). ALL of the proceeds will go to them. The concert was sold out, they had a silent auction before hand with some super cool items. [I think we seriously considered putting in a bid for the basketball signed by all the Jazz players for the 08-09 season, but decided we couldn't afford it] People could make donations and buy raffle tickets. The high school where it was held was PACKED. Performances from Kurt Bestor, Ryan Shupe and The Rubber Band, Peter Breinholt, Colors and more. My next door neighbor's son Michael Ferguson [who I've know basically my whole life] even played the piano for Colors! It was wonderful.

It was such a humbling experience for me. All I day I had been in a bad mood--over nothing. Over stupid little silly things...that won't even matter tomorrow or in a year. All these musicians came together to create a beautiful experience to help their friend... Because he wants to watch his little girl grow up. Because he feels music inside his heart and right now he doesn't have the energy to compose it. Because he wants to help all the little children who suffer from similar problems that he is experiencing and he feels lucky enough to have lived to be 36, unlike some of the children he has met...who may not live more than 1 year. Although there were some definite tear-jerker moments, the focus was on celebrating life. I loved it. I'm not even sure I can explain it, but I am so grateful for my life. For my husband. For my family. For my health. For the beautiful earth. For the temple and its promises. For good people [that I now know are still out there]. Sometimes I think I get so caught up on the negative, on what I'm missing, on what's wrong...I don't notice or appreciate the important little things...and they pass me by.

I learned a lot tonight, in my heart, in the best of ways. My favorite part of the concert was the very end when Paul got up with his wife & little girl and thanked everyone...and then played a song on the piano. It's basically the only song he has written in the past 7-8 months. There was so much emotion, and so much spirit in that song...I cried. The song touched my heart. It was beautiful, and although I don't know Paul at all, well, I hope he gets that heart and lives a long full life.

...I hope I do too...