Cori Hansen at seven
years old:
Favorite color – blue-green.
Favorite food – I don’t remember.
Favorite song – don’t remember either.
Favorite number – 7.
The
number seven has always felt sacred to me. Maybe it’s because we had seven kids
in our family. Maybe something about the seven days of creation resonates with
me. 3 and 7 are my magic numbers. I think it’s perfectly fitting that they are
both odd.
My
friend Margaret, who teaches me life lessons while she teaches me how to sew
every week, does seven push-ups every night. After her nightly prayers, while
she is down there on her knees beside her bed, she just lays her body in the
prone position, like a priest in prayer, and does her seven push-ups. Margaret
is 92 years old.
I
got curious about why seven is sort of my
number, so I Googled it and here are a few things a Numerology site had to
say about the number:
The number 7 is the seeker, the thinker, the searcher of Truth (notice the capital "T"). The 7 doesn't take anything at face value -- it is always trying to understand the underlying, hidden truths. The 7 know
s that nothing is exactly as it seems and that reality is often hidden behind illusions.
Well, OK, that works. Ask
anyone in my family; everything is symbolic to me. There is deeper meaning in
pretty much EVERYTHING! Usually, when I try to ponder the deeper meaning in
everything, I end up dozing off, and I find the deeper meaning in deep slumber.
No lie.
And then there’s this, from
the Numerology site:
There is a dry, usually misunderstood sense of humor to the 7, yet he is unable to remember a single joke. He is not jovial and never superficial. He has excellent taste and a natural love and understanding of art. He dislikes and completely ignores fashion, and is attracted to eccentric, unpopular people. The popular "beautiful" but shallow people bore him to no end. He is not usually interested in politics but has a strong sense of justice.
I do love a good joke, and
particularly admire the dry wit that comes out in conversation with intelligent
and creative people. And that part about never being able to remember a joke?
99% true. The only joke I can ever remember is that one about the two guys
hobbling toward each other in the Veterans Memorial Park. It’s one of those jokes
that requires actions, so I won’t try to recount it here. But it is sadly the
only joke I can ever remember. I do have a passion for art, and
artists, and though I have by default had to run a few political campaigns, I don’t
love politics and do love justice. I think it’s interesting that my husband
started his public service with politics as city councilman and mayor, and
evolved toward pure justice as a state court judge. He’s kind of sevenish
himself. And I kind of do find myself gravitating toward quirky people,
probably because I am one, but I don’t dislike fashion and I don’t consider
anyone I know shallow, and as long as someone will communicate I promise they
do not bore me…ever!
Then
there’s this:
The 7 is physically lanky and tall, but not athletic and doesn't care about sports.
Uhhhh….
Tall and lanky?
I
do like my Pittsburgh Pirates though, and any game one of my treasures is
playing in.
Finally, there’s this little paragraph:
The 7 is spiritual, but not religious. In fact, the age-old questions of what life is all about, why am I here, who am I, and so forth, never reach the status of clichés, but are essential to the 7's life-experience, and unless he finds the answers he will not stop looking for them until he dies.
Yup,
I am spiritual. I do have those questions in my soul: who am I and where did I
come from and where am I going when I am done? But here’s the thing: I think there
are answers to those questions and I have some of them. And I’m not even dead. If I don’t have answers it’s not because I don’t think
they exist. I just don’t know them yet.
Mostly
I plug along on faith, based on the restored gospel Jesus authored. This pretty
much puts me in the “religious” category. Not very much about my life is
absolute knowledge. I think, for instance, that when I go get in my car this
afternoon it will start, and will drive me to Timo’s band concert in Herriman. I
don’t know for a fact that my car will work, but we take care of it, and give
it fuel and oil, and it has proven in the past to be dependably faithful. I
will be shocked if I go out and it doesn’t start. Just like I will be totally
shocked if I die and there is nothing after this life that is organized and
exciting. I can’t yet say I know, but I believe, based on experience and the
feelings of my heart. And though I do pretty faithfully adhere to my religious
sect, I continue to ask myself those foundational questions, because it is
important for my spirit to be continually reinforced. That’s nature, I think,
and God knows it. That’s probably partly why He offers us the sacrament weekly.
I
am of divine origin. There is some sort of energy, a being I call Father, who has
sincere interest in me and my spiritual success. I belong with Him, and Her,
and the rest of the team that supports me. That’s my core belief. And here’s
another cool thing; you do not have to believe the same thing. You don’t have
to agree with me. I will still find you interesting, and will want to know your
quirks, and if you are at all interested I will offer you the one and only joke
I can ever remember.
