The Familiar Walls That Hold Us
Guest Post by M. Alice Abrams
This week, our hearts and prayers are with our ward family in Grand Blanc, Michigan. In the wake of such tragedy, illustrator and printmaker M. Alice Abrams shares her thoughts. Originally published at @aliceisms_illustration.
Pencil sketch by M. Alice Abrams
Scratchy burlap walls.
Vintage floral couches in the foyer.
The feeling of cool, painted cinder block.
The muted puce or forest green fabric lining the pews.
If what I described sounds like the most boring looking building in the world, you'd be correct. LDS chapels are among the most unremarkable, tired, and unassuming designs you could find in religious architecture. Not an ounce of personality about them.
And yet, their parking lots are where we learned to ride our bikes.
The cultural hall is where we've born witness to MANY an embarrassing variety show act.
The sounds of Christmas carols being sung by a choir echoing off the beige walls.
The folding chairs cold on your butt as you tilt back in your seat during a youth Sunday school class.
The lush manicured lawn we sat on with popsicles in the summer.
These chapels, as dated and unexciting as they are, feel like home. Whether you're in a suburb of SLC, to a dusty rural Texas town. In the bustling streets of Mexico City, to the mountain backdrops of Colorado. Anywhere in the world where Latter-day Saints meet, the pews, walls, foyers all give off a familiar feeling of safety, peace, and home to many.
We cannot let anyone take that peaceful, easy feeling from us. And we can't let them steal it from our friends of other faiths either. No matter your religion, or creed, or beliefs, we all deserve to feel safe in our places of worship. Whether that's in a chapel, a mosque, a synagogue, or on a familiar hiking trail. Wherever we worship God, or the universe, it should feel comfortable, like a bed for our tired souls.
We must remain true to each other. Fight for each other's rights like our lives depend on it, because they do. We are all being held hostage by fear and hatred and neither of those feelings are conducive to the spirit. We must boldly love our neighbors as ourselves and champion causes that bring our communities together. When we want for our neighbors what we have for ourselves, we are doing as Christ taught.
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
About the Artist
M. Alice Abrams is an illustrator and printmaker specializing in linoleum block print and watercolor located in Vancouver, Washington. Her artwork reflects her religious convictions and insights, as well as her experiences with parenthood. Her goal is to create simple yet poignant artwork that makes people feel loved and welcomed in the gospel. When not busy carving or painting, she is trying to keep up with her busy children and dog with her husband.
Read more like this
