Sunday, October 11, 2009

Inspiring music...

I went to a Time Out for Women event this weekend where I had the opportunity to listen to Jenny Oaks Baker perform. She is a violinist who recieved her master's degree from Julliard, and played with the National Symphony for 7 years, before quitting to raise her family. I have often heard of her, but had never listened to any of her cds or heard her play. I now own two of her cds and intend to buy more.

I could never adequately describe the beauty of her playing. Her first two songs happened to be two of my favorite hymns: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing and Be Still My Soul. I was so overwhelmed by the Spirit and the beauty of her playing that I couldn't help but weep. The emotion that she was able to pour into those pieces was astounding. How grateful I was to be able to witness and be blessed by her great talent.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

A Serious Thing....

"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no "ordinary" people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." ~C.S. Lewis

I heard this quote for the first time about a year ago. It was shared by Laurel Christenson at a Time Out for Women and Girls event that I went to with The Girly and some of our friends. On that day Laurel invited a 14 year old girl and her mother up to the stage. She asked all of us in the audience to look at this young woman and see her for who she truly is.....a daughter of God, with infinite worth and potential.....a possible goddess. She asked us to try to see her through Heavenly Father's eyes. Then, she asked us to stand and applaud, and cheer this girl for the royal spark within her. We went nuts. That beautiful young girl recieved a standing ovation the likes of which I have never seen or been part of. And something truly amazing happened. You could see the change come over her as we cheered....the overwhelming realization that she truly was of infinite worth....and deserving of all the applause. We cheered and applauded and cheered some more. After several minutes we were asked to be seated so that Sis Christenson could speak to this young woman. She was overwhelmed, as was her mother watching the wave of emotion that overcame her daughter. It was an honor to be a part of that experience. I wish it was one that every young person could experience.....to be cheered for who they truly are and the potential within them.

I came across this quote again last night and that experience of a year ago came rushing back. I wanted to record it.... as a reminder to myself.....and a challenge....to myself and any of you who may choose to take it...to try to look at all we meet with different eyes. To see them for who they truly are....children of Deity and therefore possible gods and goddesses. How much different would we treat each other if we tried to do this on a daily basis, and to help each other towards reaching that full potential within us?