It’s been a mild winter this year. That says a lot after note-worthily harsh winters in the past two years. It has been a relief to many, including my dad whose job is on the road! As I get older though, I grow more and more thankful for each season, including winter. It has become apparent to me that there is a purpose for each season in which we are meant to partake. Spring bears a sign of new life, summer a time of growth and abundance, fall a time of harvest and putting to sleep a season, and winter a time for dormancy and rest.
The outdoors are such a good representation of this cycle. In it, we see each of the seasons take on their purpose physically. I believe that as humans we require the same cycle of seasons in our own lives. We need to grow dormant for awhile and rest in order to prepare for new growth, we need the long days of sunshine to grow in the summer, and the cool days of autumn to reflect and give thanksgiving for all that God did for and in us.
I’m sitting outside right now, which is a really special occurrence for the 28th of February, especially without a coat! It is 60 degrees today. Hello Spring! I’m sitting in my garden, but I had to pull a chair out from the porch, because my sitting area is in storage. The garden represents the same, but I filled it with tulips last fall and the growth is peaking out, saying hello to me!
It’s such a lovely feeling. There’s nothing like the outdoors to me, like the trees and the forest; the wind and the sunshine; like a garden and growth. It’s been said before, and I confirm, that I truly feel alive outside, my worries fade, and I feel that all is well when I have just a few moments to breathe in the fresh air.
The walls of the outdoors are so much wider than inside, perhaps because there are none. Sometimes I wonder if building a house to spend our lives in was ever really God’s intention. It seems to me that most of my time should be spent here. But, hence, I am thankful for my home and the protection of it when the weather is harsh. I suppose that represents a beautiful quality of the Lord in itself.
I wrote last week about the vision for this blog (scroll down to see if you missed it). In relation to that, I want to take some time to talk about beauty and what role it plays in that vision. Beauty is a large part of what you see here, because it is a large part of how I see life. It is important to me, but more importantly, I believe it is a representation of God’s heart. So I thought I’d share a few things about what I think beauty is.
beau·ty
ˈbyo͞odē/
noun
1. a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight. "I was struck by her beauty"
2. a beautiful or pleasing thing or person, in particular.
BEAUTY IS AWE – When I see a beautiful flower, something happens in my heart; that is awe. I’m in absolute awe of how such beauty, the amazing colors and often perfect details of a flower, can be found growing out of the ground. It’s amazing! Isn’t it. Whenever you find beauty in your life it becomes a source of awe. In this way, I think that by recognizing it, we give glory to God, who is the creator.
BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER - What is beautiful does not have a definition. We don’t all agree on the recipients. A flower may not put you in awe like it does me, but something totally different may. For some of you it may be the people around you. I agree, living beauty is the most powerful kind, and is probably the most eleveated in human beings. The soul, created by and like God is truly profound. If we can find the beauty in those around us, we have filled our lives with the greatest beauty that life has to offer.
BEAUTY IS LOVE - Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think that we see beauty in the things that we love. A tree becomes beautiful when we plant it as a sapling, water it and watch it grow into a tall strapping figure. So do children and loved ones. When you love something, it becomes beautiful to you, and dually, I believe that love poured upon a thing makes it beautiful in itself as well.
BEAUTY IS PERSPECTIVE – Life does not always offer “beautiful things.” That is, if we classify beauty as sunny days and roses. However, some of the most touching things I have seen in life is when those who are going through a trying time, put their trust in the Lord, pray hard and hope, and then see God pull them through with his provision and timing. That is beautiful. Like a diamond being formed in the rough, under pressure; beauty is perspective.
BEAUTY IS REPRESENTATION OF GOD'S HEART - One of the reasons that I believe so much in beauty is that I believe it is a part of God’s heart. I think that my constant desire for beauty, and the capacity for awe in my heart is a piece of God that He put in me. Within that belief, I think that beauty is all of the above here. Therefore I make no apology for it. I celebrate it!
Whatever beauty is to you, and whatever you will to call it – I pray that your life is filled with more of it this year!
I'll be sharing my spring capsule wardrobe next week!
Sign up to get it straight to your inbox below!