God doesn’t just want us to be practical.
Life has so much more to offer than usefulness.
I believe we are meant to truly enjoy it.
To find beauty in the sunsets (and in Arizona, oh boy do we have the best).
To savor the delicious chocolate cake.
To dance to the background music.
To literally stop and smell the roses.
This is hard for me.
Because I’m a practical person.
I like things to have a purpose, a meaning.
But I’m getting better at selling my loaf of bread to buy a beautiful bouquet of hyacinths. Just because.
To get from point A to point B on a swirly twirly pathway, instead of sprinting.
Because one way of traveling leaves me refreshed and renewed. And the other way leaves me exhausted.
In D&C 59:18, the Lord so gently reminds us that things on this earth were made:
“Both to PLEASE the eye and to GLADDEN the heart”.
And in the next verse:
“To strengthen the body and to ENLIVEN the soul.”
The earth was created.
We aren’t living in a brown and gray abyss that will “work just fine” for living arrangements.
Instead, our Savior spent time creating beauty and intricacies.
Why?
He probably enjoyed creating it. He probably enjoyed the challenge and the beauty of the process.
But of course, He also wanted us to feel this joy.
To have our souls enlivened and gladdened and pleased.
Life is tough. There are lessons to be learned and trials to be endured.
But life is also beautiful and miraculous and delicious and harmonious and transcendent.
We need bread for our body.
But we also need hyacinths for our soul.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
8 Responses
I love this! Life is a journey on a fascinating road leading to a glorious destination. We can trudge along to the end accumulating and hauling baggage that serves no purpose; or we can drop our useless burdens, help one another carry what they need and lighten loads together. And along much of the way we can walk lightly, even skip and dance, joyfully and hand in hand. It will not always be easy or happy, but it can always be joyful.
It is a choice we make every day. How will I travel today and who will I travel with?
Yes, yes! Love it! We can find that joy!
LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!
So love this!!!!!!
So often we feel “guilty” for indulging in such luxuries…especially with only two loaves left, but how awesome is it that He acknowledges that the souls MUST be fed equally along with the body! Guilt free!!! Absolutely LOVE this!!!
Yes, yes! Guilt-free!
Beautiful thoughts. I feel like what you write is just for me and exactly what I need. I too am a practical person just here to get the job done so many days. Thank you Cali, for directing my gave yo the hyacinths.
It’s so hard to stop being so practical, right?! It’s a journey <3
Spot on! As I was walking this morning I passed an older lady, not that I’m young, walking and said hello to her. First words out of her mouth were, isn’t it a lovely morning to be walking! There is someone who knew how to notice the Hyacinths!
Oh I love that! So sweet! <3