Skinless

If you are a follower of my regular blog (which I think you all are since that's how you know about this one) then you know that I'm a fan of "NieNie". My husband would say I'm a bit obsessed with her and her story, I don't find a crime in it, so I never have apologized. Her story has truly affected my life - and I hope it's for the better. I was so excited to read her very first post since her accident on Friday. Therefore, in her honor, I thought this reflection was appropriate.

I am not like some nobler people out there, that when horrible things that make no logical sense occur, don't ask why. I always find myself asking "Why?" at some point. I often ask it knowing I will not get a rational answer, but by so doing, I do get some answers and insights that help me gain new and greater perspective.

So the "why" for me in Nie's story came is a form something like this,

"Why would God allow a beautiful couple, who is God fearing, who has 4 young children, and a happy and productive life, be in such a terrible accident that almost left their children parent less and has left them with permanent mortal scars?"


I know the obvious answers.

1. Bad things happen to good people.
2. There are lessons and blessings they will learn and gain from this that they wouldn't have otherwise.
3. This situation will help them help someone else.
There are many more, but for now I will leave it at those. But the obvious is not what I was looking for.

In all truthfulness a large part of my sadness lay in the fact that these beautiful - and I do mean beautiful - people were not going to look as they used too. I have wondered if in some way that is why they have gotten all the attention they have. I say that with no fault to them in anyway. But I have wondered had they been a couple that was not as beautiful, would as many people have really become so engaged and interested in their cause? Human nature has me leaning toward the "no" side - but I can't speak for the rest of you, so I guess it only leans toward my human nature.

With that as a back drop to my thinking, I then started to wonder what God really feels about us and our physical bodys and the way we physically look. I know the Primary answer that He loves us no matter what we look like, but that just didn't cut it for me. On further reflection I came to wonder/realize that in all actuality, God doesn't care about our physical bodies at all. After we have each been born and received one, I honestly don't think He cares about them anymore. Does He care what we do with them? Yes! Does He care how we treat them? Yes! But does He actually care at all about their physical size, shape, structure, or appearance? No!

It really does make sense if you look at the world today. The opposite of God - Satan - would have you think otherwise. He tells us that the body and the way it looks is all that matters. He tries to tell us that we can do what we please with them, treat them as we please - make them feel good, but we must all do it by being a size 2, dressing them in the highest fashions, and by making them desirable to others. Satan makes are bodies the object while God makes are bodies the expression of the true object, the one that matters, our spirits.

This may be REALLY obvious to some of you, but for me it was a good reality check to make sure I am focusing on the things that do last. Which things, I'm sure Nie would agree, are skinless.