Tasting Light

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

Photo by Leilani Bascom

The meaning of life is not to be discovered only after death in some hidden, mysterious realm;

on the contrary, it can be found by eating the succulent fruit of the Tree of Life and by living in the here and now as fully and creatively as we can.

-Paul Kurtz

I love symbols.  I love that they are both universal and individual at the same time; universal in that their representations are familiar enough to apply to everyone in some way, and individual in the ambiguity that leaves room for personal interpretation and application in diverse circumstances. 

I love trees. They are beautiful, and strong, and resilient.  They shelter, create, uphold, and sustain life.  They stand firmly in the ground and yet reach for the sky.  They weather all seasons, changing and adapting not only to suit their environment but to improve and support it as well.

I love the Gospel. It is hopeful, progressive, and eternal.  It is a constant and unchangeable guideline for positive change and progression.  It is based on love, and forgiveness, and relationships, and experiences.  It is ancient, yet modern.  Personal, yet communal. Individual, yet unifying.

You can imagine my enjoyment when all three are combined:

Symbols + Trees + Gospel = Tree of Life 

The Tree of Life has become a very prominent fixture in my life lately.  The image above is the Hatian Tree of Life, which hangs in my living room.  I recently bought a Celtic Tree of Life pendant which I wear on small silver chain around my neck.  This coming week, on the 17th of December, it will have been exactly one year since I first entered the Boston Temple- the decor of which is based on the Tree of Life- and a place I visit frequently.

Almost every culture celebrates some form of the Tree of Life.  The scriptures are full of analogies utilizing the trees in various forms and for various purposes; the Allegory of the olive tree (Jacob 5), the experiment of the seed and the tree (Alma 32); the Tree of Life seen in Lehi & Nephi's dream; the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life planted in the Garden of Eden...

Sorrow is knowledge, those that know the most must mourn the deepest,
the tree of knowledge is not the tree of life. 

-Lord Byron

I have gained a lot of doctrinal and personal knowledge and understanding while studying these trees over the last year....examining their roots, trunks, branches, leaves, and fruits.  And I have sympathized with their struggles, uprootings, graftings, growings, and fruitions.  But what I think I have come to appreciate most of all, is that while the sweet tasting fruit of the tree is the gift of eternal life- given as a reward if we endure to the end of our mortal existence- there are many, many more trees that will grow, and ripen, and offer up fruit during our lifetime here on the earth.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 

 -Prov. 3: 13-18

Just as Adam and Eve chose to partake of the fruit that is this life, we too can choose to partake of the fruits of our experiences here on earth. Our families, relationships, educations, and experiences are all trees of life, offering fruits of reward if we but take the time to nurture and nourish them.  The fruits, or rewards of our faith and efforts, are described as 'desirable above all other fruits', 'sweet, above all', 'white, to exceed all...whiteness', and 'desirable to make one happy,' but I think that my favorite description of the sensational experience of the fruit is given by Alma in the Allegory of the Olive Tree:

Oh then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yeah, because it is light; and whatsoever is light is good, because it is discernable, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?

I love the idea of tasting light, much like when Nephi speaks of feeling words.  As stated by Elder William Clayton Kimball, 'Alma is trying to describe an experience that simply cannot be explained in terms of our usual sensations. The reality of the Spirit's confirmation passes beyond the bounds of ordinary description; it transcends our everyday world.'

The concept of being fruitful now has so much more meaning: by the fruits of their labor - or their light - shall ye know them; let your light shine; engage in good works; love one another; reap the rewards; multiply and replenish; bear, mourn, comfort, stand, witness, learn, grow, forgive, keep, give, live, love, feel, partake...taste...

...taste the light.

Ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Alma 32:42

I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son.  Alma 33:23

And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you. Alma 32: 42-43