Often in spring and summer I perform an early-morning ritual: shortly after awakening, I move from my ground-floor bedroom to the downstairs and open the family room door as wide as it will open. Then I walk back upstairs and do the same thing with the kitchen door. Both doors face west, so when I return through the downstairs hallway I make a U-turn as I step onto the landing and head back up the stairs.
When both doors are open the stairway becomes a wind tunnel. Cool air rushes upward, sucked from the refrigerated belowground basement by warmer upstairs air fleeing its confines to join the great ether beyond. (Who among us doesn’t love the laws of physics?) At these times a person could stand in the basement hallway or at the top of the stairs and feel a gentle breeze, if she so desired. Which I do. From time-to-time. I have a swamp cooler, which I adore during dry Utah summers, but my life-long love affair with nature moves me to allow fresh air to have its way with my home on cool, quiet mornings.
On this early Sabbath as I write, with birds chirping outside the living room window, I can’t help seeing a metaphor here. I see the Holy Spirit moving like that morning air through our hearts and minds – if we will just open the doors. I think of all the angst and sorrow and pain we suffer as human beings, as women and as Latter-day Saints. I think of all the truth available to us because we believe God actually converses with us through the spirit—God, not some abstract, mystical, incomprehensible eternal entity, but a loving parent—whispers truth, teaches us things our child-like minds struggle to comprehend, urges us to press forward with whatever good work our heart desires, and most importantly, offers comfort amidst our confusion and sorrow.
I don’t know why women aren’t currently ordained to the priesthood. I don’t know why there is a monument to “worldliness” in the heart of Salt Lake City, funded in part by the LDS church. I don’t know how God will resolve the questions of gender and identity and same-sex marriage within the context of church doctrine. I’m not always at peace about these or other concerns that plague me.
Yet, for me, the single most astounding piece of doctrine within the Mormon faith is this: that God speaks to us where we live. And that each person can find answers to her questions if she is willing to let go of whatever keeps her from the truth. Each of us can find solace and comfort through the spirit. For some, this may mean leaving the faith or stepping away for a time. For others it may mean weeping before, during or after every church meeting they attend.
For me, it mostly means to remain open and believing. All the time. As often as possible. Because at unexpected moments and in unexpected ways, the truth makes its way into my heart from around the proverbial corner, pushing out old beliefs and renewing my faith in the fresh air, the Good News that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings. That’s how it is today anyway.
How is it for you these days?
I am moved emotionally and spiritually by both the metaphor and the faith expressed in this thoughtful meditation on eternity as it touches mortality. There is much wisdom in these words. Thank you.
This is an inspiring and thoughtful post. It makes me feel hopeful and hope is my brand of faith. Thank you.
“Who among us doesn’t love the laws of physics?”
Amen, Melody.
Thanks for reading and for your affirming comments, TCO, April, Libby. And for shared sisterly hope. “My brand of faith”- awesome, April.
The belief that God speaks is not unique to Mormonism. I don’t understand how the author is using “astounding.” Is it because she views this as unique to LDS thought? The belief that God speaks is not unique to Mormonism. It is the norm for most Christian denominations. Or is the thought that god speaks to a creature astounding? If as Mormon doctrine proposes, god differs only in degree and not in kind from humans, and in fact is the literal father of all humans, it would not seem to be very “astounding” that he would speak to his progeny.
Nevertheless, the post was quite beautiful.
I suppose I could have used the word “wonderful”. . . as in the lyrics of that well-known LDS hymn “Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me…” I was attempting to communicate a sense of awe, enormous gratitude and wonder.
I like the metaphor of a wind tunnel, too. The hard part is knowing how to open the doors. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?
I needed this today, especially the last couple of paragraphs. It made me cry. Thank you for posting this.
I love the idea of truth being that fresh air- much needed, refreshing, invigorating air. Like those spring days when I can finally throw all the windows open and let the breeze clear out the staleness that has been trapped all winter, truth can clear out the staleness of old ideas, misconceptions and confusion. Such a beautiful metaphor.
[…] Melody’s inaugural post was Lord, Let Me Be a Wind Tunnel. […]