What should we be doing? P.3

Some more thoughts:

What should we be doing? Well, first off, we should be thinking about that question. What should we be thinking about? What should we be doing? Such contemplation will allow us to examine ourselves to “know thyself” to identify our values and priorities and ultimately to realign our behavior according to high principles and high ideals.

Of course, this question assumes we ’should’ be doing some things over others. I think that word is appropriate if we want to do the most good. There are levels of goodness just as there are levels of beauty, and yes it’s somewhat in the eyes of the beholder but there are some ‘goods’ that are inherently more good than others just as such things as symmetrical faces are universally judged to be more beautiful than unsymmetrical faces. Not the best comparison but I do think we are faced with multiple ‘goods’ and some ‘goods’ are better than others.

Back to the question…another way to categorize what we should be doing can be according to the mind, the heart, and the body. In the previous post I talked about a searching for knowledge. I think it is primarily an exercise of the mind although the heart also plays a role. Often when I study or read new material I can digest it through my mind but also have a feeling or sense that certain things are true. One thought will be enlivening and ‘ring true’ while another will feel suspicious, or just a bit out of whack. So I think we should always be exercising our mind. And I’m not referring to Sudoku and Rubik’s cubes in this case but in the consuming of large amounts of information from all sources and experiences and then categorizing, analyzing, making connections, and formulating principles of truth leading to discernment.

Exercising the heart– we should be anxiously engaged in doing good, in associating one with another to feel, express, and receive empathy and love. That seems pretty straightforward so let’s move onto the next section which I’ve been thinking more about recently.

Exercising the body– if we assume or believe that this is the first time we have experienced having a physical body and that that body is critical to this life experience then we should embrace and use our body for good. I don’t agree with the traditions that disparage the body. I also don’t think it is intended to be a free-for-all to maximize bodily pleasure. I love the imagery in a phrase from Alma, “see that ye bridle all your passions” which echoes Paul’s language in James about controlling the tongue. A wild horse can be bridled, guided, and over time and trial be maneuvered about for all kinds of wonderful ‘goods’. That power and goodness can be cultivated. I think that the bridling (notice not chaining) of the body can heighten all our physical senses and make our lives richer.

I think this implies that we should seek to train our bodies to do all sorts of wonderful activities and enjoy them– creating music, learning to sing, sculpture, dance, athletics,… jump in with the kids and try that hulahoop again, take a big whiff of that flower or freshly cooked bread. It is a matter of cultivating the good.

Well, that’s it for today, I’m going to go jump in a pile of leaves.