Giving Our Souls Regular Care

This morning, my mind filled with all the awesome things I want to do.  Love life!

Anyway, as I excitedly began my morning, my eyes drifted to the vanity and I thought, "Oh wait...I don't think I brushed my teeth last night." (I was pretty...well, exhausted.) "I should take the time to brush them this morning so my teeth don't rot."

The logic of my mental process was inescapable and I grabbed out the toothbrush and toothpaste.

As I began to brush, I thought, What if people treated scripture reading and praying the same way they do brushing their teeth?

Instant analogies flooded my mind.
If we don't brush our teeth, cavities form which need to be filled.
If we don't connect with God, cavities form in our soul which need to be filled.

But I can always get fillings to fix the problem later, so why not look at spirituality the same way?
I can always "repent" or compensate for my spiritual neglect later, right?

Well, if we don't go to the dentist regularly, our cavities are not filled and our teeth rot.
If we don't go to church regularly (or wherever our "spiritual check-up" place is), our cavities are not filled and our soul rots.

The process of replacing teeth or root canals is a lot more painful than regular check-ups.  I would even dare say that those who have been through them would agree it would have been worth it to go more often.


Perhaps the process of repenting as sin has built up is similarly of greater magnitude of pain to remedy?


Some other aspects of our health are affected as our teeth health is not good.
Other aspects of our lives--relationships, perspective as the world seems to go mad around us, etc.--suffer when we are not keeping our souls clean by "daily brushing."

Hmmm...I bet if we tried to, we could see the same type of immediate negative effects of neglecting our spiritual hygiene as we do our dental hygiene over the course of time.  Recognize the pain, the effects of neglect...the nasty looking teeth.  (Yes, I have had some nasty looking expressions on my face when I neglect to read my scripture and say my prayers.)

Only, the effect of an "un-brushed soul" seems to have far more negative and lasting effect on those around us, far more devastating than the negative aesthetics or bad breath that comes with poor dental hygiene.

Maybe my scripture reading and prayer should become as essential to my daily routine as my dental work.  Kind of makes me think....

Who Do We See?

My son showed me this picture yesterday.  Love it :).

Which of Them Will Love Him Most?

I was just reading the account of the sinful woman who brings costly ointment to the Savior and washes his feet, with her hair and her tears.  I was touched by the interplay between the three in that room that are mentioned:  Christ, the Pharisee named Simon and the woman.  Simon has invited the Savior for supper and has no doubt made it a good one.  The woman comes in and Simon is disgusted probably not only that she is there, ruining his feast, but that the Savior would actually let her touch him.

I think about the woman as Christ relates the following parable in Luke 7:

 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred ^apence, and the other fifty.
 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly ^aforgavethem both. ^bTell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

I feel like that woman, so desperately needing the forgiveness of the Lord and felt a kinship with that sinful woman.  I do love him, probably more especially because he has forgiven so much.

Then I wondered something more: do I ever look sideways at others who are seeking Christ the same way that Pharisee did?

"I'm serving the Savior. And I am doing it the right way."
"That person is a sinner.  What are they doing here?"
"My offering is better.  What are they thinking by even trying?"

I wonder if that was part of the problem with Mary and Martha.  Yes, Martha is wonderful; I think we have all heard that.  But the truth of the situation is that Christ admonishes her and says that Mary has chosen the better part.    Perhaps it is because both Mary and the sinful woman were making it more about coming to the Savior and less focus on what their own offering was?  Perhaps both the Pharisee and Martha were thinking more about themselves and less about the Savior.  Maybe not.  The sinful woman was not necessarily listening but was serving just as Martha was.  Hmmmm...maybe I am falling into the same trap by judging Martha? :)

Maybe it all boils down to listening to what the Savior tells us in our hearts and not judging others for what they are doing in response to their own promptings: Martha was told to choose something better for doing something like what the sinful woman was doing.  Maybe that is the greater lesson...don't judge?

Seems like I have heard that one before :).