That's It!

Tonight, at a Relief Society activity, a woman read a quote from President Uchtdorf. If you're an LDS woman, you've probably heard it. And if you're not an LDS woman, you probably won't care. But for me, it was a much needed reminder. Oh, I needed it. He says:

"My dear sisters, I have a simple faith. I believe that as you are faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, as you draw closer to Him in faith, hope, and charity, things will work together for your good. I believe that as you immerse yourselves in the work of our Father—as you create beauty and as you are compassionate to others—God will encircle you in the arms of His love. Discouragement, inadequacy, and weariness will give way to a life of meaning, grace, and fulfillment. As spirit daughters of our Heavenly Father, happiness is your heritage."

This is the part that gets me, the part that made a jolt of warmth pass from my head to toes: he says clearly that the work of God is to CREATE BEAUTY. Right there. He says creating beauty is up there with service.

Now, I've been struggling with this writing thing. Haven't be doing much of it, truth be told. I'm terrified of it. And I can't figure out if it's worth doing. I know it is, deep down. But I doubt and doubt it. I wish I had Sam's pure, clear devotion to the work. His pure, clear diligence and conviction that it's worthwhile. Instead, I go through bursts of enthusiasm, followed by months of fear and dithering. It's absurd. And it makes it very hard to get anything done.

So not only do I love President Uchtdorf for saying that happiness is my heritage, a message I'm in desperate need of, but I love him for saying I should be writing, that writing is what I give to God. I know there are lots of ways we can create beauty, and I'm drawn to all that stuff too: a lovely meal, a pretty room, an orchestra, a dress, a painting, a well-designed sidewalk. And I want to do all of those things too, I'm just not good at any of them. But I know how to write. I'm not saying I'm really incredibly good at it, I just know how. And I enjoy it. And I teach it. And I've been through 8 years of school to do it.

So I must do it. And by doing it, I serve God. Maybe, just maybe, He put me here to write something. Which means maybe, just maybe, if I ask, He'll help me do it. That would be nice.