Beyond a Common Man

Beyond a Common Man
By: Jacob Sok


It was a beautiful August morning; the sun was shining, the green trees were bending to the wind's command and the aroma of instant soup, notebooks, and future laundry enveloped a loaded vehicle of which I was at the helm. I was driving myself down to school for another semester, which would have me on the bridge of my vessel, a 2002 Town and Country Mini-van, for about 12hrs. Leaving what I consider to be some the most beautiful country, I began my trek through the amazingly and celestially handcrafted northwestern United States.

Shortly into the drive as I made my way towards the interstate, I had a moment of enlightenment that has since sealed to me several prior impressions and lessons of my life. Turning down my radio of classic crooning rat-pack music, I was given a moment of reflection as I drove in middle of dozens of cars on either side of me. As I observed each car I saw vividly several different scenes play out. (Though I do not know the exact circumstances of every driver, it was clear to see the varying scenarios unfold) For example, a group of young gals on a shopping spree, an old truck driving shipping his cargo, a mom and daughter reconnecting,  an attentive patrol officer, to young family's weekend excursion to the lake.

While again, those conjunctures were speculative, whatever the actual settings were in those individual vehicles, they were not as important to me as the lesson itself. My heart was touched by the realization that these people were very real, each with their own stories and purposes for being on that road at that time. The exponential backgrounds and circumstances that layered the foundation for the varying stages of everyone on that road were as vast and infinite as the telestial figures that light the night sky.

In that moment I did not see these people as mere figures, but I felt a connection to real beings with actual meanings and experiences that have chartered their life courses. And, I by no means wish to make more of this than what really transpired--yet sitting their behind the wheel of my swagger-wagon left enough of impression on me to help facilitate the culmination of a life long lesson: the worth of the human soul.

In the book Acts Chapter 10 Peter was being prepared by the Lord to issue in a monumentous  direction for the young church. He was shown in a vision fields of a variety of beasts. Of these, he was invited to partake, to which he concerningly declined explaining to the Lord that these beasts where unholy animals, of which Peter and his Jewish culture had covenanted not to eat. The Lord explains in verse 15 "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" This was to symbolically teach Peter that the Lord through his prophet would commence his work among all nations of the earth including the gentiles, or those "unclean/ common" not of Peter's faith.

Peter is brought to the home of a gentile centurion by the name of Cornelius, who with his house-hold was prepared by the Lord to receive the gospel. The historic meeting of not only Jew and Gentile but Prophet and Seeker of truth proved to be the fruition of prophesy long foretold, in a dispensation when the work of Christ would be carried out among all people.

The heart of this story comes to me, when Peter declares to his skeptical Jewish band of followers in verse 28, "God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." What a lesson for us all. From my humble example in the car to other treasured moments, like Peter in my own way I have come to learn that we must refrain from the cancerous dangers of labels and stereotypes, the judging with the natural eye to those around us.

It has come bit by bit for me, being an introvert, to really grasp the idea of the worth and immense potential of every soul around me has taken time. People truly are a gift, God's gift in fact. We are part of God's family, and each of us have been molded by our individual circumstances. We would do well, to take heart in the Savior's admonition to love one another, even our neighbors as ourselves.

I am grateful to have been taught by my parents and my upbringing to have been raised "color-blind", to sense where race and ethnicity never have been factors in my perception of people. But, I have had to learn the need to extend more compassion and a loving influence to people over the years by just being nicer in general. I have found great and simple joy recently in learning to consciously strive to refrain from making quick judgments or light teasings of people around me in the everyday.

When contemplating hopes for the new year, I decided to live this year by a mantra rather than small goals. My mantra comes from the lyrics of one of my favorite hymns; "In the quiet heart is hidden sorrows that the eye can't see" (Lord I Will Follow Thee, LDS). My hope this year, much like Peter had to learn, is to go beyond giving people the benefit the doubt, but actually learn to see them through the Heaven's eyes.

Not too long ago I was talking with a dear friend of mine and we came to the realization that literally just about everyone and anyone we could name or meet has been effected by cancer in some way or form, be it a family member or friend or them directly. Well just as the song invites us to recognize the hidden sorrows the eye can't see, everyone we know and meet have been effected by the sorrows and cancers of the world in some way. Cancers of heartache, depression, job-loss, divorce, abuse, or just plain hard days. As we learn to embrace beyond the humanity but the divinity in everyone around us, we will feel the divinity within ourselves begin to illuminate our lives.

Elder Renlund of the Twelve Apostles has said, "We cannot completely fulfill our covenant obligation to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort unless we see them through God's eyes. This expanded perspective will open our hearts to the disappointments, fears, and heartaches of others." I would add that we would also come to know their joys, hopes and potential.

I hope that I may learn to not call "any man common", I know I need God's love and grace in my life to its full extent, so may be first in line to extend that to others. Through the pure love of Christ we can learn to not condone wrong actions while not condemning the actors. Seeing the world and our brothers and sisters this way is what will usher in that heralding salutation of old "and on earth peace, good will towards men".






Amen.

Sources:
- Acts 10
- LDS Hymnal, "Lord I Will Follow Thee"
- Elder Renlund, Oct Conf. 2015
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