It's fine to talk about what you think of the piece, but we'd like to
focus on what the piece makes you think about. Some questions to start:
What scars or marks would you want to keep after the resurrection?
How do you imagine a perfect resurrected body?
How does the gospel change your view of the aging process?
I don't mind the wrinkles and scars, but the stretch marks I would not miss one bit. Or the numbness from all the c-sections.
ReplyDeleteAs I age, I become less worried about physical beauty (which changes to suit fads and styles) and more appreciative of eternal beauty (which only improves with age and experience). It's not that I don't recognize physical beauty--it just seems rather flat until I get to know the person inside. Their goodness fills it out and adds dimension.
Nicely done. I wrote something along these lines for my wife once, after our second child was born and she fretted about the traces. But I was hardly this theologically profound. Thanks, Kim. Food for tender thought beautifully wrought.
ReplyDeleteI *love* this piece, especially the end. I have one or two scars that I feel give my body character and I would mourn them greatly. I like the idea that perfection does not mean we are all Barbie Dolls and that perfection leaves room for individuality and physical imperfections that are nonetheless psychologically and/or spiritually perfect :)
ReplyDeleteAn interesting thought--what is perfected? And what is, really, our physical prime? A lot of what I enjoy about my body has come as a result of experience, too.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I especially like the "largely happy" bit in the bio.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any scars I want to keep. I do think as just folks made perfect, we'll be completely blase to what we now consider physical beauty. Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother could be arthritic old wrinkle buckets for all I care--or super-intelligent bacteria. What matters is the love.
Speaking of which, I realized recently that patience, tolerance and forgiveness are big contributors to love. I wonder how well I would love my wife and kids if I never had to be patient, tolerant or forgiving with them. Probably not as well.
I ponder regularly on my scars, of which there are many. I know plastic surgery can erase the outward physical scars but I feel that they are a record of my life and that I should wear them as badges of honor. Will I recognize myself with a resurrected body? I don't remember what I looked like before the scars anymore. Beautiful work.
ReplyDelete