Even though we might differ in what we consider beautiful, we are all drawn to beauty. Whether it’s the brilliant colors of spring, the gorgeous red-orange glow of a perfect sunset, a piece of art or a work of architecture that catches our attention, beauty has the power to captivate us and leave us breathless.
It’s one thing to slow down enough or to live in the moment to the degree that we can appreciate beauty when we see it, but it’s another thing altogether to appreciate beauty in a way that turns our heart to the one who creates beauty for us to enjoy. It’s one thing to appreciate beauty for beauty’s sake, it’s quite another thing to appreciate beauty that turns to praise, worship and thanksgiving expressed to God. An appreciation for beauty can help open the heart to a greater capacity to express gratitude and praise to Jesus our creator.
I need to confess that seeing beauty doesn’t come to me naturally. I’ve never been much of an artist. I’m more prone to be critical, even cynical, than I even care to admit. I’m becoming more aware of how much beauty I miss out on because I’m quick to criticize, critique or even condemn. My eyes and my heart aren’t always looking for beauty but are more prone to notice flaws or find faults.
I’ve been challenged here of late to take beauty more seriously. I’m intentionally trying to notice the beauty that is before me each day, often beyond my limited ability to see or appreciate it. It’s an intentional effort: noticing the beautiful. It’s even more intentional to move from simply taking notice of the beauty before me and moving to praise of the creator behind the beauty before my eyes.
It may be a sunset or the daffodils of spring. It may be the way in which a mother tenderly cares for her child. It could be the moment of one brother washing another brother’s feet or the song offered in praise and worship. It may be through brilliant colors, nature’s handiwork or someone else’s thoughtful work and design. God places beauty in front of us all the time, for us to enjoy and to draw our attention to Him.
Are you looking for beauty today? Does the sight of beauty draw your heart closer the Savior who created the beauty and gave His life to redeem you and make you part of the beautiful story that He is writing? Take some time to notice the beauty before you this week. Appreciate it and allow it to remind you of the great God who is the artist behind all the beauty we see.
Christ’s Peace,
Lance