MAGNIFICENT HUMANITY

 

Sometimes when I consider the atrocities in the world today and some of the things we say and do, from our leaders down to the common man, I am convinced we are operating here on the level of intelligence called stupidity. I don’t know how God tolerates us in this weakened state of mortality.

At other times I hear a piece of music that lifts me to the gates of heaven or I see a piece of art that rends my soul with gratitude for beauty or read a poem that bares someone’s soul and I see the other side of humanity. I am often amazed by the talents, strengths, attributes and achievements of many of us. I am especially enthralled by people enshrined in holy writ…..their capabilities, their sufferings, their level of endurance, their skills at handling life, and especially their faith, devotion to and love of God.

I marvel at our uniqueness, our creativity, our intelligence, our very essence and all that we are and are yet to become. I imagine if there were no mortal days of probation I might never have heard of a man called Abraham Lincoln in the vastness of the Universe or been moved by music written by Mozart or heard Renee Fleming sing Casta Diva. What an amazing gift it is to be a witness of someone's unique expression of self and of the mark they leave on this world. Most of us will not earn a page in the annals of history. Most of us will never become another Abraham Lincoln or Mozart or Helaman or Isaiah but all of us have a unique light within with which we can illuminate the world.

Alma spoke of having the image of God in our countenance (Alma 5:14). Imagine our unique talents, gifts, capacities and personalities, our very souls, enhanced by an image of an exalted God. Imagine the beauty that would exude from us if we truly loved God and possessed the Saviour’s attributes. Moroni thought it was possible. He admonished us to pray for the pure love of Christ so that when He appears we shall be like Him and thereby know Him (Moroni 7:48). Imagine the hearts we could reach if they saw the Saviour in us. Imagine how many souls we could influence and bring home with us if we bore the image of Christ in our countenance.

God sees us in our entirety. He sees who we were, our present limitations and what we will yet become. He sees us as an amazing assortment of humanity and most of all He sees our potential. This is how He can tolerate us here and now.

In the realms of heaven when your glorious destiny hung in the balance, the Saviour saw you and your worth and your potential. Besides His overriding desire to bring glory to the Father, this is what propelled Him to the cross.

In the words of Dr. Seuss: "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You". How truly magnificent are you?!!!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: A Peaceful Heart by Michael Malm)