As we enter the Christmas season we should ponder upon the greatest gift that God has given to us, the gift of life! It has always fascinated me to be able to watch people and how they respond to life. It is sometimes quite obvious which of us see life as a gift and which of us view it, more often, as an unwelcome challenge.
A person’s countenance, provides telltale signs as to how we view the gift. Everyone given this gift, will have trials and tribulations but some cannot see beyond the pale or their self imposed barriers. For them the words of Alexander Pope, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast;” does not have place. Others emerge from a challenge stronger, and even more convinced of the gift they were given. I like George Gershwin’s spiritual: “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise.”
“I’ll build a stairway to paradise with a new step every day
I’m gonna get there at any price, stand aside I’m on my way
…Shoes go on and carry me there
With a new step every day
Stand aside I’m on my way
Shoes go on and carry me there
I’ll build a stairway to paradise with a new step every day
Yeah! I’ll build a stairway to paradise…
Oh Lawd, I’m on my way
I’m on my way to a heavenly lan’,
I’ll ride that long long rode.
If you are there to guide my han’.
Oh Lawd, I’m on my way”
Faith plays a rather important roll in how one views life, as hope springs from faith, the faithful are more likely to ride out their trials knowing in their hearts that: ” Behind the clouds is the sun still shining”, and “Tomorrow is another day”
If one is regularly immersed in ‘cesspool like circumstances of life’, it is usually by choice. We don’t have to step in, we can step over it or go around it. There is beauty all around but we have to consciously select, when possible, the things in God’s beautiful creations that bring joy to our hearts.
The movie, “Forrest Gump”, had a statement about life that rang very true. “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”. What we do with what we get is determined by us. Whatever life may bring to us we choose what effect it will have on us. Everything, even a tragic event, can be turned into something good in the end with the right attitude. We should all carry a song in our heart that helps us maintain that attitude of hope. “I’m gonna get there at any price stand aside I’m on my way…shoes go on and carry me there!” The earth is beautiful, God is great, love is warm and inviting, challenges are exhilarating, death is inevitable, and the veil is thin. Life is truly a gift but, “What doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him and he receive not the gift?” (Joseph Smith Jr). God has given us the gift of life, but we wrap our own gift. Whether our wrapping is bright and beautiful or dark and gloomy is decided by us. “Shoes go on and carry me there”.