We Sing Joy!

How do I give service for someone who is soft spoken, humble, funny, athletic, well-dressed, a dynamic salesman, entrepreneur, international man of mystery, loving father and husband, worthy priesthood holder and all around Superman????  (He even has the cape!)  My task this year to find a worthy service project that merited what I believe to embody this individual’s characteristics and ideals was difficult.  Considering this person’s personal interests, hobbies, and values, and how to couple those with service to benefit a third party in his name, was challenging.  But I enjoy a challenge, and finding joy in the service of others is gratifying.  So let me tell you a little bit about how I stumbled upon my gift of service for this great brother and how I feel it perfectly fits him like a boot!  (Hey, I’ve got a boot…hahaha.  Oh that’s funny!)

Hock, this one is for you.

I struggled from the moment I found out I had drawn Hock’s name as my recipient of service for the year.  Every idea for service was scrapped as I felt each one fell short of what should be offered upon the sacrificial service alter in honor of Hock and what should merit a worthy act of service. I would ask Tiffany questions regarding Hock to better understand him and what makes him tick.  She would simply respond, “What you see is what you get.”  Which is true.  There is no guile in Hock.  He truly shares himself by word and in deed.  I did my homework.  I read all of the previous years’ service posts that either were posted by Hock, or were posted in honor of Hock, to get ideas.

Hock LOVES sports.  The first time we met we talked about baseball.  Hock is a huge baseball fan.  I’m a huge baseball fan.  Hock loves the Giants.  Me, not so much (Mariners and Angels – I was born in Tacoma, WA, and currently live in Orange County, CA, and will always root for the home teams.  Yep, that’s right, I’ve been a Mariners fan for over 30 years of thick and thin…. mostly thin.)  So cheering for the Giants was out.  Our teams hardly ever play each other, so not a huge sacrifice, plus the season was already winding down so there wasn’t an opportunity to actually go to a game and be supportive.  I felt merely cheering for an opponent was not the sacrifice I was looking for.  There needed to be something more meaningful.

Hock LOVES football.  When I first met Hock, he invited me to play in an early morning pick-up game with some friends. I had a great time, caught a few passes, and quickly realized how poorly out of shape I was compared to him.  I could not keep up with him.  This is the guy who recently trained for and conquered a MARATHON!  I knew I was in trouble when he showed up wearing cleats, receivers’ gloves, and Under Armor from head to toe.  Also, Hock is a die-hard Ute.  He is a U of Utah alumnus and has raised his kids in the dark side.  I graduated from the other institution located south of Point of the Mountain.  I don’t consider myself a die-hard fan, but I cheer for my Alma Mater.  The U and BYU faced off this last week in a college bowl in Las Vegas.  The first half of the game was shameful.  The second half was redeeming, but still fell short of victory.  Could I truly, sincerely, sacrifice for Hock and cheer for the enemy?  I could never feel clean afterwards.  The infinite atonement of our Savior makes up for all sins, save perdition and cheering for Utah.  Again, deeper, more meaningful service was the goal and I was still left without ideas.

There were many, many other ideas, several sports related, or clothes related (Hock is dapper!  Always well dressed), or scout related (Hock is an Eagle Scout.)  But nothing felt quite right or worthy of rising to the level of Hock-ness. 

The Hock family motto is “Hocks do hard things!”  Boy, do they ever!  Just recently, the Hocks made another trip to the ER for Hadley Bear’s split lip.  Before that Hock was showing off his mad basketball skills which resulted in his own trip to the hospital with a torn Achilles.  But he was awarded a boot!!  Hock and Lani have emotionally, spiritually, and physically run the gauntlet this past year.   I have shared the Hock story over the past year, and AJ’s fight against cancer, with more people than I can count or remember.  Recently, Tiffany and I attended a year-end client appreciation dinner, hosted by a new associate.  My new associate invited Tiffany and I to the event with the intent of introducing me to his many clients who might be in need of estate planning services.  Rather self-serving.  I had no thought of looking for opportunities to serve Hock at this event.  Little did I know that the opportunity I had been fervently praying for would be presented to me.  That night I shared the Hock family story with a man named Erik Rees.  Erik lost his 12 year-old daughter to cancer (brain tumor) in 2012.  Her name was Jessie and even while fighting and battling cancer, she could only focus on how to share joy, comfort and care with other children fighting cancer.  She started putting together care packages, called Joy Jars, filled with toys, goodies, and notes of encouragement, to be delivered and shared with other children who were in a similar situation as Jessie.  A foundation has been established in her honor and to continue the goal that she so bravely and selflessly began to bring joy to all children (and their families) fighting cancer.  The foundation is called NEGU and stands for her motto, “Never Ever Give Up.”  Their web page is www.negu.org.  Check it out.  Erik tells Jessie’s story much better than I do in a beautiful YouTube video that is found on the foundation’s web page.  The foundation has partnered with 70 Olympic and professional athletes (including NFL football players!) who help to deliver Joy Jars to children in over 275 children hospitals throughout the country and in over 28 countries throughout the world.  The foundation not only delivers Joy Jars to children hospitals but also to over 175 Ronald McDonald houses throughout the country!  While listening to Erik tell Jessie’s story, it hit me that this was the meaningful service I was looking for.  I asked Erik if there were any opportunities of service with Jessie’s foundation.  He said that anyone can volunteer to stuff and package Joy Jars at the Joy Factory (which is located just down the road from our house!)  He gave me the name and contact information of the factory manager but cautioned that the factory is extremely busy right before the holidays and may not have any additional openings for service and assistance.  The following day I contacted Kristy, the factory manager.  I shared with her AJ’s story and explained how our family provides service for the holidays.  She was very moved by it all and we made arrangements for me to come in to the factory at the earliest available date to help stuff Joy Jars.  The earliest date is January 7, after the holidays, but I am looking forward to stuffing as many Joy Jars as physically possible in the time I have scheduled.  So look for an update to this post on or about January 8.

When we have experienced the overwhelming love of our Savior, and tasted of the sweetness that only the true love of Christ can provide, naturally we wish to share it with others.  Lehi and Nephi saw in vision how the true love of Christ is spread throughout the world, by sharing it with others, one soul at a time.  Jessie wanted to share joy, love, and care with every other child (and their families!) fighting cancer, exactly like AJ and the Hocks.  Hock has seen and experienced and continues to fight that fight with AJ and Lani and their family.  They are the ones who Jessie wanted to help, even when she was fighting the battle herself.  Like Jessie, Hock is selfless.  I know that if it were within his superpowers he would fasten about his shoulders his Superman cape and scoop up all of those kids in the Ronald McDonald houses and the children hospitals across the country (even throughout the world!) and cure their ills and take away their sorrows and fear and pain.  I know this because Hock exhibits charity, the true love of Christ.  If the Savior were here, he would do the same, ministering to these children and curing their ills.

Jessie's foundation brings these children joy, one Joy Jar at a time.  Hock, in honor of your sacrifices and selfless service to your son and your family, and to the numerous numbers of children and their families fighting the ultimate fight, this service is offered for you.

Love you, Brother.