Nesting

Our neighbor downstairs moved in recently from upstate New York, and the third day after her arrival she was fixing up her outside patio space. She pulled all the weeds, washed off the fence and concrete, put down new rocks, and set out a fancy outdoor dining table with a stone top. The table is now decorated with an interesting seasonal display of gourds, pumpkins, watering cans, and flower pots. I am intrigued by her creative impulse to make her living space, even a 6' by 6' patio, more beautiful. My mom calls all those instinctual efforts to beautify and create and make a house feel like a home nesting. Birds build and pad their nests mostly for the comfort of their young. In a similar way, I believe these creative desires, these "nesting" efforts are part of the divine character of a woman. It is part of the nurturing nature of women, whether or not they have children, to create an environment for learning and growth. A home that has the feeling of home is one that emulates the feeling of the temple. The temple, of course, uses the very best materials and the finest fabrics and furniture, but the feeling comes by the holy work performed there and the devotion of the people found within its walls. However simple the home, the feeling of holiness is there when creative and inspired efforts build a loving and nurturing place. No creative effort is wasted because creativity toward worthy ends has divine origins.