Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say. How else do we explain the choices made every day?
Decorating, for example. Colour schemes in our homes vary from house to house, generational choices have their moment- do you remember chocolate brown internal doors? Or purple and orange patterned wallpaper? Or there’s the pragmatic “safe” choice of magnolia… Most of us will redecorate where we live to put our own stamp on the place and make it uniquely “home.”
Or I could wander into the more dangerous field of human attraction- look at those couples who make us wonder what they see in their partner! But I am wise enough not to comment further.
Beauty in nature. That’s safer. Isn’t this rose gorgeous? Adding the long ice crystals wasn’t my idea, it just happened. Frost makes its beauty stand out. There are so many “beauties” in the natural world we might even think it’s done on purpose!
What about the power of beauty?
Beauty can lift our spirit, inspire us to love and/or worship, comfort our sorrows, and more.
Dear old humanity… the mish-mash of good and bad, promise and failure: and we produce music, art, poetry, photos, architecture, passionate speech- and celebrations of joy when we come together for a higher, better, purpose. We reach for the stars (and even our shortfall can be glorious). Is this surprising? Or the natural consequence of our “God-imitating” creation?
WE are made “in the likeness of God”. Eternal beauty and creativity are inbuilt, part of our physical and spiritual DNA.
God looked at what He had created: “It is VERY good.” It is correctly formed, properly placed, and has intrinsic beauty. The power of that beauty echoes through the centuries and changes our lives.
And if you think I’m exaggerating about beauty having power… watch a parent’s reaction when their tiniest offspring gives them a picture. That charmingly inept masterpiece melts the heart and ends up in pride of place.
Perhaps the beauty we produce (in all its imperfections) delights our Father in the same way.
The Reflectionary 