I got a new bath pouff for Christmas with some bath gel and powder and such. When I was getting ready for work this morning, I saw beauty in the pouff--kind of funny you may think. When I looked at that pouff I saw the friendship from which it was given. I saw luxury and pampering. I saw love for myself.
Today just so happens to be Payday as well as Friday and the start of a three day weekend. A great day. I have money in the bank to pay my house payment. Which, translates to my home and my home is beautiful--not my house mind you, my home. My house is a regular house, nothing real special, but every evening that I come home as I come down the street my heart begins to rest and I find belonging.
As for Friday before a long weekend--you just can't really beat that. I figure when Jesus comes back, He'll come on a Friday. Now that would be the ultimate Friday. Friday night is my favorite night of the weekend. On Friday night there are two free days spread before you--this Friday there are three days. A time of rest and fellowship.
You may or may not have noticed that I changed my profile picture. My new picture is of me when I was probably six. We lived on Donald street in Garland. I can remember the green of the St. Augustine grass and the climability of the Sycamore tree in the front yard.
This is my favorite picture of myself. I look at little Summer in her eyes and I see love and hope and laughter--and a beautiful, snaggle-tooth smile. I see all of my potential in this little girl's face. I see her beautiful heart. I see her beautiful girl-ness. As I look at her, I hope to see the same beauty in my heart--surely, it has not left us; surely our beauty is just in hiding.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
More Beauty
There is a song by Matthew West called More. In this song the chorus goes, "I love you more than the sun/And the stars that I taught how to shine/You are mine and you shine for me too/I love you yesterday and today/And tomorrow I’ll say it again and again/I love you more." It's written from God's perspective to me and you. I am God's and I shine for Him. How great is that?
Last night I went out to pray. I looked up in the sky--it was so clear. I saw my familiar handful of stars blinking at me. And the quarter moon was softly blazing down on me. I was moved to pray a "thank you" prayer. I struggled to keep requests out of it. Afterwards, I felt a load off my heart. I had a beautiful experience.
I have a friend--a man-friend--who is very self-assured. I guess he'd be considered a man's man. He laid bare his beautiful heart one evening at Bible study. He was speaking to another man, telling him what my friend loved about him. As my friend came closer and closer to his heart while he talked, tears flowed from eyes down his cheeks.
What makes the stars blinking at me beautiful? What makes a thanksgiving prayer beautiful? What makes a man's heart beautiful? I impart some of the beauty--as in "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." There is also inherant beauty in these.
The stars remind me of my smallness. They also remind me of my greatness. All those stars so that I can see them and enjoy them. God didn't have to make all those universes and planets and stars, but He did. He made them so I and the rest of us could see them.
So, those are the stars. Next up is the thanksgiving prayer. I had a hard time keeping myself from throwing in at least one request. As soon as one popped up ready to go out my lips, I would change course and give thanks for whatever it was I was about to request. The beauty in gratitude is humility. I acknowledge that I am given all kinds of gifts everyday that I do not deserve. I find my rightful place in my own life. And, in reality, thanking God surely felt like talking to Him about all the concerns I have on my heart.
Seeing a friends heart is just about the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Seeing a man-friend's heart is breathtaking. This big, strong man showing softness and love toward a friend was humbling. Reality wafted through the room like the smoke from a candle. We all saw heaven in the the drops of tears from my friends heart.
Stars and prayers and hearts--beauty on display.
Last night I went out to pray. I looked up in the sky--it was so clear. I saw my familiar handful of stars blinking at me. And the quarter moon was softly blazing down on me. I was moved to pray a "thank you" prayer. I struggled to keep requests out of it. Afterwards, I felt a load off my heart. I had a beautiful experience.
I have a friend--a man-friend--who is very self-assured. I guess he'd be considered a man's man. He laid bare his beautiful heart one evening at Bible study. He was speaking to another man, telling him what my friend loved about him. As my friend came closer and closer to his heart while he talked, tears flowed from eyes down his cheeks.
What makes the stars blinking at me beautiful? What makes a thanksgiving prayer beautiful? What makes a man's heart beautiful? I impart some of the beauty--as in "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." There is also inherant beauty in these.
The stars remind me of my smallness. They also remind me of my greatness. All those stars so that I can see them and enjoy them. God didn't have to make all those universes and planets and stars, but He did. He made them so I and the rest of us could see them.
So, those are the stars. Next up is the thanksgiving prayer. I had a hard time keeping myself from throwing in at least one request. As soon as one popped up ready to go out my lips, I would change course and give thanks for whatever it was I was about to request. The beauty in gratitude is humility. I acknowledge that I am given all kinds of gifts everyday that I do not deserve. I find my rightful place in my own life. And, in reality, thanking God surely felt like talking to Him about all the concerns I have on my heart.
Seeing a friends heart is just about the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Seeing a man-friend's heart is breathtaking. This big, strong man showing softness and love toward a friend was humbling. Reality wafted through the room like the smoke from a candle. We all saw heaven in the the drops of tears from my friends heart.
Stars and prayers and hearts--beauty on display.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
The First Beautiful Day
I was challenged this morning by a friend of mine to look for beauty in the world around me--actually in my world. There is a world of difference between the two.
I have decided to do just that--and to keep at least some gratitudes along with the beauty. I have a gratitude journal I write in before I sleep--maybe though keeping some here will help me see beautifulness--and maybe even hope.
Eternal Hope is not a problem for me--I am confident in my salvation. Day to day hope--the workings of eternal Hope on daily circumstances is very difficult for me. I easily lose sight of the good and eternal of each minute of each day.
Along these lines is a quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning: "Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes - The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries." Given that, if I would but open my eyes I would see beauty and gratitude and God and Heaven in all my eyes can take in.
My first bit of beauty today that I noticed was my dog Maxine.
My friend here at work, Leslie, and I were talking about her grandad's place in Arkansas. I have been there. We were envisioning some of the things he could do with the place--like make retreat cabins and rent out to groups or individuals. In talking I "saw" the beauty in his land and the beauty of a place to go in nature to rest your heart and come closer to God.
Thus far, those are my beauties.
I have decided to do just that--and to keep at least some gratitudes along with the beauty. I have a gratitude journal I write in before I sleep--maybe though keeping some here will help me see beautifulness--and maybe even hope.
Eternal Hope is not a problem for me--I am confident in my salvation. Day to day hope--the workings of eternal Hope on daily circumstances is very difficult for me. I easily lose sight of the good and eternal of each minute of each day.
Along these lines is a quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning: "Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes - The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries." Given that, if I would but open my eyes I would see beauty and gratitude and God and Heaven in all my eyes can take in.
My first bit of beauty today that I noticed was my dog Maxine.
My friend here at work, Leslie, and I were talking about her grandad's place in Arkansas. I have been there. We were envisioning some of the things he could do with the place--like make retreat cabins and rent out to groups or individuals. In talking I "saw" the beauty in his land and the beauty of a place to go in nature to rest your heart and come closer to God.
Thus far, those are my beauties.
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