My Point of View: 2011-04-24

Christ and the Young Child 1873

I feel spiritually fed this Easter season after attending the Easter pageant in Mesa, commemorating some of Holy Week with my family, listening to the beautiful Easter program in Sacrament meeting, and last night attending the Carl Bloch exhibit at BYU.

I have known about this exhibit for some time but I keep forgetting about it. Maybe because I knew it would be at BYU for a long time. Then last week an article on KSL caught my eye; I realized the exhibit only runs until May 7th. The article speculated the crowds would be unusually large towards the end of the exhibit as people rushed to see what was described as a 'once in a lifetime opportunity.' As I read about how the paintings, called alter pieces, have traveled from Denmark and Sweden from the chapels they permanently hang in, I decided I needed to see them! As I logged onto the website to reserve tickets I saw that they were all gone. Suddenly I had a taste of how the five foolish virgins must have felt. I had no real excuse for not taking the time for this. Matt brought it up the following Friday night that we should go. I shared the sad news with him. He got online and through some miracle there were now TWO tickets available for Monday night. I don't know if someone cancelled or what, but he reserved them quickly.

I was disappointed about not being able to take the kids. However, after going I wonder if it might have been a little long for them. The exhibit wouldn't have taken as long to go through if we didn't rent the IPAD tour. Matt and I stayed for an hour and a half. The tour showed panoramic views of where the painting hangs in Europe as well as commentary, scripture, and facts. We listened to or read every word. It was so peaceful in the gallery and it couldn't have been any more professional.

As I woke up to a blanket of snow today, April 26th, it oddly didn't seem that out of place. With so much focus on the life of Christ lately, it feels like December. In fact, just yesterday I said to Ava, "I miss Christmas." So I put in my favorite Christmas CD's and danced with Callie in the living room. I feel so much gratitude in my heart for the life of the savior, his example, his teachings, his love, and his sacrifice. How can any discontent in life wear on me long when I have this knowledge?
HE LIVES!