The Institute for Excellence in Writing Blog

Monday, April 28, 2014

Beauty



I run around too often totally unobservant. I fail to notice life. The world spins around me, and I, encapsulated in my agenda, fail to participate in it. I miss the best stuff, too.
Nana's Lillies in a Cloud of Jasmine
It's a shame, too. God planted so much beauty all around me, but in my haste to check off the next to-do item, I fail to stop and smell the lilies, or jasmine, or whatever.
A New Bloom on My Orchid and Calla Lilies in the background
There is beauty in the mundane, the common, the routine.
The Blush of a Rose
Beautiful Girls, Beautiful Braids!
Dad
Your mission (and mine) today is to stop...
Ligustrum About to Bloom
notice...
My Latest Spindle-Spun Yarn
and enjoy...
The Neighborhood Fighter (and Lover)
the beauty all around you. Linger awhile. Savor the sights. Choose carefully how you view something (or someone). Right now, I have a small pile of dirty laundry I need to do staring me in the face. Right on top of that, however, is our cat. Completely at rest. Comfortable amid the chaos. Sacked out.

John Keats so elegantly wrote in his poetic Romance, Endymion,*

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

The Apostle Paul put it very aptly, I think...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.
Philippians 4:8, NIV 1984

* If you're curious, here's a taste of the poem read out loud.

My NEW Bosworth Midi Spindle in Buckeye Burl and Bocote For a Shaft!

1 comment:

  1. Beautiful encouragement and challenge. I have been thinking along the same lines lately but it is all too easy to slip back into my focus on the ugly things that scream for my attention. God has given us such blessings; I want to be grateful for each and every one.

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