Ripples of Light

I love aquariums. Especially the huge ones you pay to see. There is something abosolutely magical about them. I always feel I am somehow closer to understanding the meaning and wonder of life as I watch hundreds of sharks, fish, and other creatures interact. Maybe it is because water feels so much more substansive than air, it becomes so obvious that, though each aquarium dweller seems most intent on taking care of their own needs, they are also constantly sending out ripples that effect their fellow aquariuns. Some are small, some are large, but they are visibly there. This led me to think about ripples. How once they are sent out they ripple on forever. How some ripples create beauty, while others seem to iterfere, or muddy the waters. I once saw the ripples sent out by a shark literaly toss a smaller fish. Yet, recently I discovered that those beatiful rays of glittering light shimmering through the aquarium are made when light is captured and magnified by ripples on the surface of the water. What a wonderful thing it would be, if I were able to stand and review my life, to see that I had become like those ripples, adding beauty, warmth, and light to the world around me. Is it possible?

Answering that question was easy. I cannot count the number of people who have blessed my life in that way. Many of whom I've never even met. For instance in considering this question I went to one of my favorite websites, lds.org, and put "ripples" into the search engine. I found a talk by that title given by Virginia Jensen in the October, 2000, General Relief Society Meeting. She emphasized the difference one person can make when they act upon the truths they know. One person she mentioned whose righteous choices ripple on even now was Mary, mother of the Savior. This brought to mind something Mary said in Luke 1. After accepting the eternal truth "that with God nothing is impossible" and firmly deciding she would do the Lord's will, she later declares, "My soul doth magnify the Lord." (Luke 1:37-38,46) What a wonderful declaration and testimony. It is possible to not only do good and share warmth, beauty and light, but for me to become a soul that magnifys the light of the Son of God, the way the ripples magnify the light of the sun! However Mary didn't do it alone. When she made that declaration she was talking to Elizabeth, who had welcomed her to come stay during a difficult time. Hence this blog- I can't help but think their are others who also wish to be ripples of light in this world. In fact I know there are because I have lived all over the U.S., and I have met many. I hope to meet many more who share my desire to be as described in the lyrics to one of my favorite songs:

A Window To His Love
Words and Music by Julie de Azevedo

I want to be a window to His love, so when you look at me you will see Him.
I want to be so pure and clear that you won't even know I'm here, 'cause His love will shine brightly through me.
I want to be a doorway to the truth, so when you walk beyond you will find Him.
I want to stand so straight and tall, that you won't notice me at all. But through my open door He will be seen.
A window to His love. A doorway to the truth. A bearer of the message He'd have me bring to you
And with each passing day I want to fade away. 'Till only He can be seen And I become a window to His love.
I want to be a window to His love, so you can look through me and you'll see Him.
And some day shining through my face, you'll see His loving countenance, 'cause I will have become like He is
A window to His love. A doorway to the truth. A bearer of the message He'd have me bring to you
And with each passing day I want to fade away. 'Till only He can be seen And I become... A window to His love A doorway to the truth. A bearer of the message He'd have me bring to you. And with each passing year I want to disappear 'Till He's become ev'rything and I've become a window to His love.