Dear Friends,
Not long ago I had a dentist appointment to have a cracked filling repaired. Although I knew this was a very
minor procedure—especially in comparison to the very major dental work I’ve had done over the years—I
was experiencing a great deal of anxiety just thinking about it.
The morning of the appointment I was running a little behind, and as luck would have it, I ended up stuck
in early-morning traffic, compounded by construction delays and lane closures. Needless to say, I was feeling
more than a little frazzled when I arrived ten minutes late.
As I sat in the waiting room trying to wind down, I noticed a dentist I had never seen before, and for just
a moment I thought I might have walked into the wrong office. After all, this was a private practice, and there
were no other dentists. Then the thought occurred to me that maybe my dentist was sick and that perhaps he
had called on a substitute for the day—and could that really happen? For unexplainable reasons, this caused
me a considerable amount of panic.
While I was processing every other possible scenario, the door opened it and was my turn. As I walked down the hall, I quickly scanned every room
looking for my dentist—who was nowhere to be found. As the assistant took x-rays and numbed the entire right side of my face, I became increasingly
agitated. Trying to calm myself down, I laid my head back, closed my eyes, and began to listen. Although it was early, the office seemed unusually
busy, and all I could hear was “doctor’s office” music, the humming and grinding of the drill, and the very unfamiliar voice of the substitute dentist!
I knew I was overreacting and that I was on the verge of ridiculousness, but I continued listening intently for any sign that my dentist was actually
there. In my moment of desperation, I heard—very faintly—the unmistakable voice of my dentist! Relief washed over me, and in an instant I felt an
immediate feeling of peace.
I couldn’t help seeing the gospel parallel illustrated so clearly in this experience. How very difficult, yet eternally critical it is that we are listening—
above the noise of this world—for the voice of the Lord—the Good Shepherd who spoke these tender words, “My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me. . . .” (John 10:27)
I hope as we approach general conference weekend, we will have the opportunity to turn down the world’s volume that we might hear the voice
of the Good Shepherd and feel His love for us. I pray that in our moments of despair and our times of trial and temptation, we will have the strength and
courage we need to draw ever closer to Him, and like sheep, we will follow Him along the covenant path so He will truly know us.
Sincerely,
Susan Condie
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