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!