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 think I’m getting better at enjoying the beauty of life. 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 practical bread for our body. ⁣

But we also need beautiful light for our soul.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Please, gladden, and enliven first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

She then started to tell me what the post said.

… It was one of my posts. 

She saw the smile on my face and stopped her explanation.

“Oh my goodness, was that one that YOU wrote?! I’m so sorry! I didn’t even look to see what account it was from!”

We both laughed.

I’ve been there plenty of times, too.

Where I read an amazing post or article, or listen to a great talk…

And then I can’t remember who wrote it or where it was from later!

There are so many authors online.

But when we get out and look at the world around us, there is only one author we need to remember.

Jesus.

Under the direction of His Father, He was the Creator of the earth.

Jesus is the author of it all.

And yet, when He came to earth; when He came to the work of His own hands:

“The world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” (John 1:10)

They didn’t know who He was.

They didn’t know what He had done.

The grass, the fish, the flowers, the wind, the warm sunny days, the wheat, the water, the lambs, and the lions.

It was all there because Jesus had created it in the first place.

And yet, Jesus came to the earth and still served and created.

He created healing and peace and love and hope and light.

He created forgiveness and mercy and power.

He changed lives and transformed hearts.

And so I want to hold a little more gratitude in my heart today for the Ultimate Creator.

I want to recognize all of His creations.

And I want to give praise for what He continues to create for me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The creator of all things  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.