Wake Up And Do Something Good

There is a hymn that I was reminded of a couple of Sundays ago when a friend mentioned it. It's titled "Have I Done Any Good" (and the link will take you to a page where you can read the lyrics and listen) and is a favourite hymn of mine, which is a good job as this last week it has been stuck in my head and I've been singing it almost constantly all week, much to the annoyance of my family and co-workers.

It's the chorus that has stuck out to me this last week and has made me think of my lockdown experience.

Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

During the lockdowns, there had been a suspension of all things "normal". People were unable to go out unless, for a ration of daily exercise, essential travel or work and have faced months on end of staying at home, not seeing friends and family or doing things which bring them pleasure.

During the first lockdown, I treated it like a bit of a holiday from normal day to day life.

Church was cancelled, we didn't have zoom meetings each Sunday or Tuesday for the Youth nights and with a newish Deacon in the house, we didn't have anyone to bless the Sacrament each Sabbath day like so many other members across the world. 

Brownies and Rainbow meetings were not on and we didn't have online meetings to start with. 

I went to work just a handful of times a week. 

I didn't visit my friends or family and didn't text, call or write to them as often as I should have or they would have liked.

I was asleep.

As life slowly came back to normal, with work becoming full-time again and zoom meetings replacing the meetings where we could meet in person I started to wake up, but something was missing.

Doing good.

During the subsequent lockdowns, I was much more awake. I was doing good by being involved in my community, by trying to keep in touch better, by being more present with my family, by joining groups and being more active in my friendships.

Thinking on all of this during the last week a quote from Thomas S Monson has also come to mind

"What a formula for happiness! What a prescription for contentment, for inner peace. … There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done."

I, for one, am glad to wake up and do something good.