One of my least favorite activities is renewing my drivers license, or registering my vehicle.
Today, I got to do both.
If you ever want a feeling of hopelessness, walk into almost any department of motor vehicle office, in any state, and the long lines will make you long for a BarcaLounger and a television remote. Add two hyper children into the mix, and you have a vision of what outer darkness could be like.
In our family prayers the other night, I specifically prayed that my wife and I would have success at the Connecticut DMV (success being defined as both vehicles registered and valid drivers licenses for both my wife and me). With statutory deadlines and a change in insurance policies after moving to Connecticut, the need for obtaining registration for both vehicles was unavoidable.
As we set out for the DMV in the morning, we had a long list of required items with us, and a few things we thought we might need as well. After standing in a line that resembled a column from the Israelite exodus from Egypt, we learned that my laminated Social Security card would not be accepted.
A return trip home to obtain suitable back-up documents proved fruitful for me, but not so for my wife. Fortunately our vehicles were registered in both of our names, so I was able to get them registered, even though my wife was unable to obtain a new license.
As my family and I left the DMV, I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving in my heart for being able to get my license and register both vehicles. My family’s prayers had been answered and I felt as if the Lord had blessed me that morning.
I love Nephi’s response to his father Lehi when he was asked to return to Jerusalem and obtain the Brass plates:
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
1 Nephi 3:7
Even though my task was not obtaining scriptures in a city I had previously abandoned, my task was nevertheless daunting and one where I needed the Lord’s help to complete.
I love the scripture in Alma 37:6:
Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
Today I learned that the Lord stands ready to bless my life and prepare a way for me to accomplish the things I have been asked to do, even through small and simple things as obtaining a drivers license and vehicle registration.