I stood in the check out line at the grocery store this morning feeling kind of grungy. I hadn't a stitch of make up on, was wearing sweats, and had my hair in a bun. Not the most fashionable look.
As I waited to pay for my fruit and chocolate donuts (my favorite) I perused the various magazines that adorned the check-out aisle. One headline caught my eye. It said something to the effect of "See Who Has the Most Amazing Body!" There were pictures of a muscular guy and a twenty-something woman in a bikini. I had to admit, they did have amazing bodies.
Then I wondered who would be on the cover if the title were changed by one word: "See Who Has the Most Amazing Testimony!" I thought of how different the world would be if we faith, rather then sex, sells. I would love to see an artists rendering of the Apostle Paul on the Cover of People Magazine.
Imagine the articles: "10 Tips to Keep an Eternal Perspective" rather then beauty tips. Or, a full-color layout on "The Dangers of Sin" rather than the fatty food.
What would it be like if faith was as valued as appearance, if the inner was more important than the outer? Where "She has a sweet spirit" would be a compliment rather than a way of saying someone wasn't pretty enough to date. A world where abstinence, self-discipline and patience were honored and the family was first. Where inner beauty was what people really looked at.
In real life, most of us aren't on magazine covers, and most magazine covers don't focus on faith. Most of us don't have "The Most Amazing Body." (To be honest, I wouldn't want an amazing body. I would just like to be healthy enough to be a great-grandmother). But, most of us are working on building amazing testimonies. Most of us practice our faith everyday, when we pray, when we feel the Spirit, when we trade our will for His.
It is our testimonies that allow us to see what REAL life really is. And, in the end, our bodies age and die. And when we pass through the veil to the Spirit world, it is our testimony that we take with us.
I looked at the magazine again, with the amazing bodies on it, and I smiled. I don't have an amazing body, but I have a testimony, and to me, that is amazing.
When I saw the title for this post I thought you were posting a certain picture we talked about earlier! Too good to be true!
ReplyDeleteGreat perspective Michelle. You always do!
You are so funny! I would never post that picture! But, thanks for wishing :)
ReplyDeleteAnd bty- I'm still going to win :)
ReplyDeleteFunny..... I agree. Amazing how the difference is made by simply changing ONE word. Perspective is lacking. Words have meaning. People, especially Latter-Day Saints, do not have a tesimony of the power of language... maybe I'm wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhen the world was created, when we were organized into spirit bodies, Father in Heaven used words to do this. There is a deep and significant beauty in language that is lost on our current generation, and I think we would be better for it by striving for a better understanding of our language.
I love the post, and the sentiments expressed therein. I get all my brilliance from you.... and maybe a little from Jery.
What a great post! I can tell you have an amazing testimony. And I agree that it would be nice if "she has a sweet spirit" were viewed as a compliment.
ReplyDeleteI love the eternal perspective that you show in this post! Zion is all about building that alternative culture.
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