Full Benefit

"I can do all things through Christ..."

Once upon a time, long long ago, I was a sprinter. 100 meters. 200 meters. 400 meters (I hated that distance btw, which was unfortunate, because it was also my best event.) And a couple of relays as well. Living in Eugene, Oregon (aka Track Town USA - Home of the Oregon Ducks and Steve Prefontaine) made the fact that I could run even more significant. For a brief stretch beginning in 9th grade, I won almost every race I ran, including a few races at legendary Hayward Field. I sometimes even imagined myself winning races at the collegiate and maybe…impossibly, the Olympic level. Which is where things got interesting…

One summer evening I went by myself to run quarter-mile intervals at my high school. The idea behind intervals was to basically almost kill yourself, running laps as fast as you could, followed by a far-too-brief rest, and then, another lap. And then another. I may or may not have almost passed out.

After a few laps I noticed an older man was sitting in the stands, watching me run. I didn’t give him much attention as I slowly wore myself out. After a dozen laps or so I finally stopped, completely spent and drenched in sweat. After a brief recovery lap, I staggered off the track and began walking to the parking lot. The man waved as he walked toward me and asked if I could visit with him for a minute. I reluctantly agreed, just wanting to get home. He introduced himself as Archie San Romani and asked if I would be at all interested in having a running coach. He told me he had done a bit of running and saw some potential in me to become a great runner.

I told him “thank you” and said I would need to think about it. He told me he was married to a teacher at my school (Kristi San Romani - I knew who she was) and that I could reach him through her.

(This is the sad part of the story, but also the important part.)

I didn’t do anything. I didn’t think about it. I didn’t talk to my parents about it. I didn’t call him or try to find him or silence my fear of failure.

I.DID.NOTHING.

Several months later, I happened to see a story in the newspaper about a famous runner now living in Eugene named Archie San Romani Jr. It was him, the man who had approached me about being my personal coach.

I felt a dull ringing ache inside. Should I still reach out to him? Was it too late? Would he be mad at me? Would he remember me? Had the opportunity passed?

I.DID.NOTHING

Yeah. “What if,” right?

What might have happened if I hadn’t been afraid? If I’d said “why not”? What would have happened if I had made the most of this offer to be coached by an Olympic-class runner?

Several weeks ago I learned about something that has since been on my mind a lot. It’s something the Navy SEALs use to help them find maximum value in every experience, no matter how difficult.

They call it “Full Benefit.”

Here’s what a recent article written by Paul Marobella on LinkedIn said about this principle:

Born in the rigorous training and high-risk operations of the Navy SEALs, this philosophy is a survival tactic. It’s a strategy that enables them to navigate perilous situations and emerge stronger. The essence of ‘Full Benefit’ lies in continuous learning, adaptation, and improvement. It’s an acknowledgment that every situation holds valuable lessons, no matter how dire.

Full Benefit is more than just a phrase; it is a way of life. Deeply ingrained in the training and operations of the Navy SEALs, it’s a mindset that encourages one to squeeze every ounce of value from every situation. The highs, lows, and in–between hold a lesson, an opportunity for growth and learning.

In looking back on this moment when I turned down the opportunity to have the “full benefit” of a world-class coach, I established a pattern that would sadly be repeated several times in my life. Moments where I played it safe at the cost of other opportunities that included risk (and which ones DON’T?)

Why am I sharing this here? What does any of this have to do with developing a closer, more meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ?

This is what I’ve been thinking about.

☆ Am I receiving the “full benefit” of the Savior’s Atonement?

☆ Am I enjoying the “full benefit” of His mercy, grace, and power?

☆ Am I gaining the maximum blessings promised to those who follow Him?

☆ Am I completely “at one” with Him, my eyes riveted to His cross, unwavering?

Of course not! No one I know has all of this (or even any of it) figured out. That’s not the point of sharing this principle with you.

Learning the concept of “full benefit” has helped me think about some long-standing, still-current weaknesses I have yet to overcome, and why I haven’t yet turned fully to Jesus for help. It has also got me thinking about the help I need to improve and heal important relationships with those I love. And this idea has me reflecting on my list of unrealized dreams and goals and longings. I claim to believe that He can help me, and wants to, with all of these things, and so much more. I am the reason He can’t.

The more I think about it, the Atonement of Jesus Christ is The Way to fulness. He is, in Isaiah’s words, “the repairer of the breach.” As I invite Him into my relationships, my efforts at personal improvement, my struggles with doubt or any number of other critical areas of my life, He promises means unto deliverance (D&C 104:80). It’s hard to realize that I limit His ability to be the “God of miracles” in my life because I choose not to believe by not allowing Him to do for me and those I love what no one else can.

In Camille Johnson’s poignant words,

Why do we insist on carrying our rocks alone?

It is intended as a personal question for each of you to consider.

For me, it is the age-old vice of pride. “I’ve got this,” I say. “No worries; I’ll get it done.” It’s the great deceiver who wants me to hide from God, to turn away from Him, to go at it alone.

Brothers and sisters, I can’t go at it alone, and I don’t need to, and I won’t. Choosing to be bound to my Savior, Jesus Christ, through the covenants I have made with God, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

I love what this verse from The Book of Mormon teaches us:

And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

1 Nephi 17:3

I’ve spent over a month thinking about how to share this principle with you. No doubt I could have spent many more weeks trying to get this “just right” before publishing. But as someone once said, “under way is better than under consideration.”

What does this idea of “full benefit” mean for you? Please consider sharing.