The Incredible Lightness of Being

I am kind of tired of Christmas shopping.  Now, don't think that I have all my shopping done.  In fact, I have not even started this year.  In years past, we have purchased some cute thing for each grandchild, and then given our children a check or gift card.  I think that they each appreciated it.
However, this year I feel like something is missing.  I have a gift that I would like to give to each of my children and grandchildren this year, but it is not something that I can give.  It is the incredible lightness of being.
Now, I have to give a little disclaimer here.  When I mentioned this phrase to my husband, he looked at me and said he had never heard of this before.  I was sure that I had heard it somewhere.  I was sure because that was how I had felt at the time that I heard it.  So, we went to the internet. And every time we typed in those words, it went automatically to the unbearable lightness of being.  Evidently, this is a book and a movie.  I have not read it or seen the movie.  So, I am not sure what either the movie or the book are about.  I just know what I felt.
One of my favorite scriptures says: "And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things."  Light.  Completely filled with light.  I have felt this a few times in my life.  It is truly incredible.  I feel like I could fly when this happens.  That if I took one springy step, that it would launch me into the sky.  This beautiful feeling comes when I am in harmony with my Father in Heaven and when I am doing the best I can to live like He would have me live.
I mentioned in my first blog that music also brings such an uplifting and happy spirit into my life.  I think that music has helped me get to this place of light more often.  And I have come to the conclusion that just listening to the wonderful music is not enough for me.  I need to sing and connect to the music and the spirit through voicing my convictions.  It compounds the breadth of the spirit and takes me, almost immediately, to that place of light.
So, this incredible lightness of being is what I wish I could give to each one of my children.  And grandchildren.  I wish that they could feel the light, and increase the light that is in their own lives.  I wish that I could, somehow, draw out every dark shadow and help them to feel this wonderful fullness of light.  Overstating a little, but it is so incredible and would be the best gift I could give them, if I were able.
One more thing I want to share on here today:
Today my niece was baptized.  My parents really wanted to attend their grandchild's baptism and I am the one that takes them most of the places that they go.  We also were expecting a big snow storm today.  If you know me, you know that I am NOT a thrill seeker and I do NOT like driving in bad weather.  So, last night and I had pretty much decided that I would not be driving my parents 90 minutes north into the storm.  I knew that they would be disappointed, but I just felt that it would not be safe, or a good idea.
At three a.m., I woke up.  And this is what was running through my mind: "...for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left,.....and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."  So, at 7:45 this morning, I took my parents and we braved the storm.  And there was profound peace in my heart.  Heavenly Father is so good to me.

Remember when Star Wars came out?  And the theme from the first Rocky movie?  Well, I don't exactly remember when, but it was about the time that I got my first car.  I remember listening to the radio and when either of the songs came on from these movies, I was instantly transformed into a spaceship, or a Rocky hero.  I would push on the gas, and "fly".  Wow.  It was cool.  (Now I have this thing about keeping the law....I always have, so I never "flew" over the speed limit, but it was fun to pretend to.  And I got this soaring feeling inside of me.  More due to the music than the actual speed on my car!)

I love to sing in my car. I used to have a great singing voice, but age and not enough practice have caught up to me. But, in my car, when I am all alone, I don't really care. And it's a great way for me to let it all out, or let it all go.  When I was younger, I listened to the radio and sang along with whatever artist was singing. When I got older I quit listening to the radio. I liked the silence of my car and the chance to reflect and often pray.  When I got even older than that, I started listening mostly to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  And that's when I started to sing again.

So all of that makes me sound ancient. I'm not really. Today is my birthday and I thought I would try something new....blogging. I don't usually share feelings in print.  I have four children and all of them have great talents with words.  They have profound and unique ways of expressing their thoughts.  My husband, too, is eloquent and is one of those people that says the right things at the right times.   I am not super great with words, but music is another thing all together.  I can share most of what I feel through music. Mostly on the piano, but alone in my car I can share my great, great love for music and for my Heavenly Father.  When I sing, I praise Him.  I love Him.  I know He lives.

Lately I have listened to, and sung to, the MoTabs primary songs album, "Teach Me to Walk in the Light". I love it!  Music that I sang in primary when I was little, and new songs that my grandchildren sing now.  It starts with "I Think the World is Glorious".  So, I sing and sing and sing and sing!  I choke up, and can hardly sing, " Mother, Tell me a Story".  I hold my palm branch high in the air while singing, "Tell me the stories of Jesus".  My heart feels like it will burst out of my chest when I sing, "I know he lives!  I will follow faithfully. My heart I give to Him. I know that my Savior loves me."  And all the others.  What a glorious album to listen to and to sing to.

Now, in case you think that is all I listen to, I also have Vocal Point (The Game Day song is great!  That flying thing again!)  and Voice Male (I'm a Hippopotamus and I've got Noodles on my Back!) (I know.  Silly.  But fun!) and The Piano Guys CD in my car.

I am so grateful for music; so grateful that it blesses my life every day. And even more grateful that I can bless others lives through it.