Chrysalis & Consecration

{Seeing as it is Fast Sunday, testimonies have been on my mind.  Besides the sacrament, the things I miss the most from Sacrament Meeting, when I’m home with sicky little ones, are all the testimonies that are shared.  I have had a lot on my mind the last few days and wanted to put part of it in writing. For our family and friends, for future family, and for myself.}

One of my resolutions this year is to read C. S. Lewis everyday.  It has been one of the easiest resolutions ever.  I adore his writing.  I do not have any trouble starting my morning study time with Jack.  I read that is what his family and friends called him.  I want to be in that group.  Which leads me to the next question – Do you think there will be a huge line in heaven waiting to meet him?  I imagine so.

The easy part is being motivated to read his writings.  The hard part is sometimes understanding.  His writings are a lot like Elder Maxwell‘s to me.  I read a paragraph or two over four or five times.  And then I feel like I might be catching a glimpse of what they are describing.  And the glimpse is so worth the effort.  I read “Mere Christianity” a few years ago and adored it.  “The Four Loves” is waiting on my headboard.  What I am reading now is “A Year with C. S. Lewis” that Jim Bob gave me for our anniversary.  It is a few paragraphs a day from various books that C. S. Lewis has written.  Perfect for me.  It leads right into my scripture study time.  With these excerpts, my wish list of books is growing.  I love his style of writing and sense of humor without overdoing.  I would be happy to read a few paragraphs of C. S. Lewis every day for the rest of my life.  And that is a sign of a good resolution.  🙂

Last Wednesday I read an excerpt from C. S. Lewis’ last sermon (1956):

“For it is not so much of our time and so much of our attention that God demands; it is not even all our time and all our attention; it is ourselves. … He will be infinitely merciful to our repeated failures; I know no promise that He will accept a deliberate compromise.  …For He claims all, because He is love and must bless.  He cannot bless unless He has us.  When we try to keep within us an area that is our own, we try to keep an area of death.  Therefore, in love, He claims all.  There’s no bargaining with Him.”

While reading Enos this week I realized how his story applied as well.  In verse 9 it tells how Enos “…did pour out [his] whole soul unto God…”  His whole soul.  He didn’t hold anything back.

Jim Bob taught in the Elders Quorum today.  The talk was Elder D.Todd Christofferson’s “Reflections on a Consecrated Life”.  I read it this morning.  The whole talk is wonderful and fits right in my thoughts for the week.

“True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives –that is, our time and choices–to God’s purposes.  In so doing, we permit Him to raise us to our highest destiny.”  Later in the talk he says, “A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes menial, sometimes unappreciated but always work that improves, orders, sustains, lifts, ministers, aspires.”  Does that not sound like a mother?  I need to focus on the last half.  Yes, my work is sometimes repetitive and menial, but I am improving, ordering, sustaining, lifting, ministering and aspiring.  Ooh, I love it.  I love all those verbs.  A consecrated life is full of action and recognizing that action.

Elder Christofferson also quotes the film, Man’s Search for Happiness. “A prophet of God has said: ‘Men are that they might have joy–a joy that includes a fullness of life, a life dedicated to service, to love and harmony in the home, and the fruits of honest toil–an acceptance of the gospel of Jesus Christ–of its requirements and commandments.”

While reading that quote I realized that a fullness of life only comes after we fully give ourselves to God.  I feel as if I am in a constant chrysalis state.  Just learning and developing.  Changing and refining.  Big changes, little changes.  I think that is partly what this life is for.  I am thankful for my Savior that makes those changes possible.  Sometimes it is hard work.  I need to remember – the end result is so promising!

Can you imagine though, if that caterpillar decided to go into a chrysalis, but not quite all the way?  Just leave out a little bit of it’s “old self”?  I’m not sure of the science involved, but I think the transformation would not take place.

I want to fully give myself.  To consecrate my life to God’s purposes.  And to someday fly.

{chrysalis photo by Christian Meyn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net, butterfly photo by Federico Stevanin, at FreeDigitalPhotos.net}