The Creative Chemistry Of Life

It is hot in the kitchen these days cooking for the men in the

hay harvest fields. But perhaps we are making ourselves more warm

and tired than necessary by fretting and thinking how tired and warm we are.

We would be much cooler and less tired if, instead of thinking of the

weather and our weariness, we would try to remember the bird's songs

we heard in the early morning or notice the view of the woods and hills

or of the valley and stream. It would help us to think of the cooling breeze

on the porch where we rest in the evening's lengthening shadows

when the long, hot day is over.

The kitchen at Rocky Ridge Farm

There are pleasant things to think about and beauty to be found

everywhere, and they grow by dwelling on them. If we would but open

our eyes to the beauty of our surroundings, we would be much happier

and more comfortable. The kingdom of home, as well as the Kingdom

of Heaven, is within us. It is pleasant and happy or the opposite

according as our minds and hearts attune themselves to the

beauty and joy around us or vibrate to thoughts

of ugliness and discomfort.

Which leads me to conclude that our lives are like coal tar.

This sounds rather unpleasant, but I'm sure I'll be pardoned for

using the simile when it is clearly understood that I have no intention

of blackening anyone's character. Coal tar is not altogether what it

appears to be. A great many things can be taken from it.

That's like life, isn't it-everybody's life?

Until recently I always thought of coal tar as a black, sticky,

unpleasant substance, fit only for use as a roofing paint. But it is

a wonderful combination of elements out of which may be made

what one wills. The most beautiful colors, delightful perfumes, and

delicious flavors are contained within its blackness and may be

taken from it. It also contains valuable food elements and the most

dreadful poisons. From it also are made munitions of war, and the

precious medicines that cure the wounds made by those same munitions.

And so our lives are similar in that we may make of them or get out of

them what we choose-beauty and fragrance and usefulness or those things

that are ugly and harmful.  It is necessary to understand chemistry to extract

from coal tar its valuable properties, and we must practice the 

"creative chemistry" of life to get true values from life.

Just as the chemist in his laboratory today is carrying on the work of

the old-time alchemist, so we may practice magic arts. We may change

unloveliness into beauty and, from the darkness of life, evolve all the

beautiful colors of the rainbow of promise by developing the bright rays

of purity and love, the golden glow of constancy, the true-blue of steadfastness,

and the ever-green home of immortality.

"Consider the lilies of the field.."

Matthew 6:28

The beauty of the Glade

Missouri Wildflowers

"The Creative Chemistry Of Life"

(July 1921)

 By Laura Ingalls Wilder

(1867-1957)

From the book, "Little House In The Ozarks"

A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler

The Rediscovered Writings

Edited by Stephen W. Hines

Guidepost Edition
(1991)