Don’t you love these lyrics from Amos Lee: “Nothing is more powerful than beauty in a wicked world.”
So here’s the question: Where do you find beauty in a world filled with turmoil and wickedness? (I’ll give my answer later.)
- - - -
Today is Ash Wednesday. For many years I’ve gone with some buddies to a noon service at Heavenly Rest. A friend of mine is the minister there, and I find great significance in having him look me eye-to-eye and remind me that I’m going to die someday. (”From the dust you came, and to the dust you will return.”) I know the Ash Wednesday, lenten season, Easter movement doesn’t work for everyone. But it does for me, calling me to inner renewal and to celebration of the Risen One.
Perhaps trying overly hard to avoid Gnostic tendencies, I probably wouldn’t describe the world as being “full” of turmoil and wickedness. In Isaiah’s vision the proclamation was, “. . . the earth is filled with His glory.” So, I see an unimaginable piece of splendid art with splatterings of graffiti sprayed here and there. What I find is desecration in a world filled with God’s glory. I find beauty in every place that someone or some institution is working to reverse the effects of the old curse; anywhere the graffiti is being washed off–where the poor are fed, the helpless are helped, justice is done, and the unloved are touched.
Ben, Rochester, NY
For starters, when I married my wife and when we welcomed our two children in the world.
When our first child, our son Kenny, passed away, in the midst of misery and suffering I saw beauty in the way that ohther people ministered to us.
I witness beauty everytime I see someone surrender their life to Jesus in baptism.
I find beauty when I find people being able to live as God created them to live, with lovve, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
A couple of days ago, I went to a friend’s house to help her out. It was to be her first day home alone with her 2-year old son and 4-week-old TWIN daughters. I went at lunch time and fed babies. That is where I see beauty in an evil world - in a newborn enjoying her bottle and then deep in sleep afterward or a 2-year old with his face covered in chocolate chip cookie.
Beauty is in the tulips peeking up from the ground, the joy on a nephew’s face as he rounds second headed for third, my mamaw’s face as she sees her not so young only granddaughter…
This is the first year I’ve ever participated in lent myself. I’m looking forward to learning and growing.
I find beauty in good honest people. I like when you write about your family. You seem to be good and honest in these things. Thanks
Well said, HW. We cannot enter Heaven unless we become like little children. Nothing is more precious on this earth as a little one. Our little girl’s laughter cuts through this wicked world. And i love to watch her sleep! God has blessed us so!!! I just wish she would not have to endure this world. But in Christ we are more than conquerors!
Re Lent: see my comment (#62 or so) on your last post.
the Bride of Christ
I’m ever disgusted by the MTV show “My Super Sweet 16″ (but I keep watching it — like a car accident, I just can’t look away), in which millionaire parents throw lavish parties for their teen daughters. It is snobbery and greed at its worst. It is ugly.
Then I was watching another network one night and saw a documentary about Abby and Brittany, conjoined twins who live in Minnesota. From the waist down, they appear to be one person. From the waist up, their trunk branches into two sets of shoulders with Abby’s head on the left and Brittany’s on the right. The fact that they lived beyond the day they were born is a miracle in itself. They are healthy, active, they just got their drivers licenses, and they are starting to think about college. The documentary showed them celebrating their 16th birthday with their family and a cake in the kitchen of their modest home. It put anything on “Super Sweet 16″ all to shame because Abby and Brittany’s party was a true celebration of life. And that is beauty.
Mike,
For me, I see beauty in kindness. Not in the goofy “random acts of kindness” (although that isn’t the worst pop-culture trend in the world). Rather, my heart is always deeply moved when two strangers, in a typically anonymous interaction, stop and recognize the fundamental human dignity residing in the other. I’m guessing that is what Jesus brought to every encounter. He never met a Stranger.
P.S. Mike, I also find you beautiful, in a sexy sort of way. But my therapist is working with me on this…
From Sacred space….
We are at the start of Lent, the time of the year when the church invites us to test our freedom, and to question the notion: I can take it or leave it alone. Try that with grumbling, drunkenness, talking about yourself, stealing, gambling, or other habits that diminish our freedom. What habits make you hard to live with? Lent is about regaining control of our own lives, especially in those areas that damage other people. We don’t admire those whose appetites or habits lead them by the nose. Nearly all of us have habits, or even addictions, that keep us from God, and harm both ourselves and others. These seven weeks before Easter help us to focus our energy on improving…..
I’m struggling with my first attempt at Lent. The question in the back of my mind is - shouldn’t this be a year-round thing - Do I need a special designated time to work on me? Thanks Mike!
Beauty is a sister in Christ at our small group meeting around the Table of the Lord (a real table) last week. She is of Hispanic heritage, diminutive stature, and smiling visage. A real lady, as some of us over 50 would put it. She has undergone some suffering recently, but it was eased as she sat, bread in one hand and cup in the other, gazing around the room at her family in the Lord with an expression of utter serenity. Seeing her face, I thought, “This is how it is SUPPOSED to be.”
First of all, Richard Beck… you are one odd bird!!! But, I did already know that! HA!
Beauty…. I will shamelessly say in my kids. When I see the look in Anna Claire’s face when she dances across the room or laughs out loud in the middle of a book we are reading… that is beauty to me. When Andrew says to me (like he did this morning…), “Mom, I’ve been up thinking for an hour. I couldn’t get back to sleep because I’m so excited about Destination Imagination and the contest this weekend!”… that is beauty to me. When I glance out the back window and see Nicholas shoot the 200th basketball shot of the day and pump his fist in triumph… that is beauty to me. I guess the bottom line it that when a person is doing what God created them to do, it is a beautiful thing!
As for Lent… please don’t do what I did in High School to a friend. A good friend of mine showed up to an event the night of Ash Wed. with the ashes on her forehead. I had no idea what it was, commented to her that something was on her face and proceeded to wipe it off! Oops.
Beauty in a wicked world and Ash Wednesday, February 21, 2007
I’m astonished when I think about a boy whom some discounted because of His village and his uneducated, humble beginnings becoming the named leader of over 2 billion people over a period of 2,000 years. That is beautiful.
Beaten within inches of his life, nailed to a cross. “It is finished.” “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” “Today you will be with me in paradise.” The empty tomb on Easter Morning. That is beautiful.
Given much. Responsible for much. All my sins under the banner, “It is finished.” That is beautiful.
Jesus touch. Those who couldn’t sit still, can sit still. Those who couldn’t dress modestly can dress modestly. Those who were never in the right mind can be in the right mind. Those who were filled with fear can be filled with love. Cured. Cured by the Spirit of Jesus. That is beautiful.
Sleeping like a baby in the midst of a spiritual storm because Jesus has taken the wheel. That is beautiful.
One night, a baby wheezing for breath, the next morning the baby lying on the mother’s chest in the baby ICU asleep. This mother who had earlier lost a child in child birth saying, “We’re great! When this happened we came to this great hospital. America has the greatest of care for children. We’re exactly where we need to be and things are fine now.” That is beautiful.
Able to decide my reactions to what happens to me even though I can’t control what happens to me. That is beautiful.
Larry Wishard
I have seen beauty arise out of destruction here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 18 months after Hurricane Katrina destroyed 90% of our homes in Pascagoula, there are volunteers here from Illinois and Pennsylvania. I’ve never even been to those states, yet am being served by these gracious people. I have seen beauty in unity as believers from Churches of Christ and Christian Churches joined together with Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Mennonites, and others have put their minds and hearts into rescuing devastated people regardless of man made lines in the sand. God’s REALLY REALLY BIG FAMILY continues to serve … teenagers and married couples, singles and elderly people … taking vacation time, spending enormous amounts of money on gas, food, van rentals, materials just to come here and GIVE. I watched some of my own brothers go home because a Chrsitian Church brother spoke … and if they had only listened they would have heard him extol the virtue of working together in Christ and in love. But while they made their exit and traveled up the road, we praised GOD … and I saw the beauty even through the hurt. I have been astounded as Methodist people have given our church money to renovate our damaged building. I still can’t believe it. The Christian Church organization IDES.org has contributed vast amounts of money and supplies to keep the work going. Churches of Christ Diaster Relief, with funds given from across our brotherhood, has supplied over three million dollars worth of appliances, furniture, and other necessary supplies to our community alone. Yes, I’ve seen lots of ugliness along the way … and have those stories, too … but I’ve mostly seen the beauty and the wonder of God’s People united with a common cause … too busy spreading Good News and Helping Hands to bicker about our understandings of particular viewpoints. Sorry this is so long, but I really did keep it short … if you know what I mean.
The season of Lent has allowed Easter to take on a whole new meaning for me. No longer is it about the Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunts, and chocalate, but it is about the power of the Risen Lord, spiritual renewal, and transformation. As Henri Nouwen puts, it is the season when Winter and Spring struggle with each other for dominance.
However, my Easter won’t be the same without Val singing “Arise, My Love.” I’m going to see if he is available to come down to Houston on April 8th this year.
To those of you looking for devotional literature on the season of Lent, it doesn’t get any better than Henri Nouwen’s “Show Me the Way.”
Beauty in a wicked world….
My daughters, my wife of nearly 27 years, my grand daughter. My mother, who cries often over the loss of my dad almost 4 years ago.
The San Juan Mountains north of Creede.
The way elm trees swell their buds in spring until they finally explode in the presence of the Maker.
The way babies love to be held and loved.
A brother who bear hugs me without hesitation or reservation about how some might see it.
Certainly…in Anna Claire.
A president who makes mistakes, but prays.
A couple who start an orphan’s home in India.
Three fifth graders who can’t wait to see me Sundays and Wednesdays.
Carmen, who always asks God’s blessings on me when we talk.
The fact that the tomb of Christ was only occupied for 3 days.
Kids laughing and playing in the school yard.
A baptism.
A man who cries.
The fragrance of roses and lilacs.
The smile on the face of a certain elderly, red-haired lady in Hospice care as we sang “Victory in Jesus”.
Christians of different denominations who accept each other.
People in pulpits who pray for our enemies and our military.
A small group which loves deeply.
People who stop to help someone in trouble.
Psalm 103:10-13.
The Church.
Sorry, Mike…. I got lost in the moment.
My wife and I just moved from one town to another to pursue a ministry calling. The final two weeks were spent in people’s homes almost every night, enjoying company and saying things we don’t usually say to each other. We were lavished with blessings and love. I guess that is something that made me stop and say “thank you” to the Lord for his beauty.
Also, there is NOTHING like a beautiful blue-eyed baby girl to brighten my world.
I see beauty in a wicked world when I look into the eyes of a truly poor person who is having a need met… Almost instantly, there is an overwhelming sense of hope and a joyful longing… a gentleness… sometimes there is a fear (which, as we consider beauty, may sound odd at first, but it’s often a childlike/instinctual fear, there is something pure about it)… but more often than not I see in their eyes a peace, they knew that the need would be met, they’ve lived in an awareness of their dependence and with confidence in provision… There is beauty in the eyes of the poor.
Preach on John Dobbs. We found the same to be true in Florida during our 2004 Hurricanes–People from all walks of life coming together for the common good of the community. Didn’t I read about that somewhere in Acts???
Mike, watch yourself around those Episcopalians! I know, one of my good friends here is one. I have learned a great deal about the liturgical heritage from him and it does help me as you said to focus on the inner person.
I also want to hear more about Richard’s therapy progress!!!
Peace.
I find beauty in the remarkable and amazing works of compassion found everyday in the church of Christ. And each time a person is born again because the gospel has been presented.
I see beauty in a wicked world through the heart of a child who does what he can for his brother.
Four years ago my son and daughter-in-law were arrested in Georgia. My husband and I made the long trip over there to pick up the pieces…their two year old and eight month old sons…the oldest having turned two the day his parents were arrested. On our first morning back home in Arkansas, I went in the kitchen and found two year old Parrish in the kitchen floor with a bottle and powdered baby formula trying to make a bottle for his little brother. There was formula on the floor as well as in the bottle. He cried as he thought he would be scolded for making a mess and said “J.T. hungry”. I wept with him.
Please create in me dear God, the heart of a child who wants to feed his brother and does what he can to do so.
Beauty?
The smiling faces of Grandmas and Grandpas as they see their grandkids running toward them with joy in their eyes. That picture on my refrigerater that my grand child drew in worship service. You know the one that you realy don’t know what it is supposed to be but it was drawn for me by her. The sunsets here in Texas. The Abilene State Park when we drive up to my family’s anual reunion. All those irritating people in that family. Trees, flowers, animals, birds, mountains, plains, rivers, lakes, snow, rain, sunshine, Texas summers, Texas winters, ……….
The sun glinting off the ice covered tree branches after an ice storm and you can see each and every twig shining like a silver sculpture.
Where to find beauty in this world? Just open your eyes and look around. Children, young couples walking hand in hand, old couples walking hand in hand. There is beauty in everything made by God’s will. So much beauty that the mind staggers. Cloud formations, a million stars on a clear night in the country.
All this and the realization that there is one who controls it all and yet looks at me with love and adoration and cares deeply that I am cared for and happy.
What every once of the comments above about beauty have in common is that they are all, every one, about Jesus Christ and the loving hearts found in his people - in the hearts of peoples, old and young poor and wealthy, loving, caring, discerning. And in the hearts of those who find Jesus Christ and the good news through US!!
I am so joyful and excited right now to be a Christian because of studying and praying and interactions I have had the past couple of weeks that I want to shout the GOOD NEWS to everyone I meet and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. And I’ve been a Christian my whole life, baptized some 50 years ago!
Yes - there is beauty in this world and it ALL comes from God.
A little Lenten levity - Collin Cowherd on ESPNRadio said for lent he was giving up:
The CW channel; Soccer; Middle weight boxing; grape Bubblicious; and Moisterizer.
Ditto.
Of course my two daughters and my wife. They are a given.
I will also throw out some of the Weather Channel babes.
I am going to try to “do Lent” to a certain extent by trading meat on Fridays for some golden fried catfish with coleslaw. Now I don’t know if I can do this or not but I will give it a try:)
I find beauty in the woods, either at springtime on a morning or the dead of winter late in the day.
I don’t do Lent like the Catholics, but I do mark the occasion with extra reflection on Scripture and my life. I’m also doing special reading during this lenten season.
I find complete beauty in a wicked world when people abandon themselves to experience unrestrained praise and adoration of the Lord.
I find beauty in a wicked world whenever I hear my nieces and nephews laugh. It’s a heavenly sound.
I think it is interesting. Fat Tuesday reminds of the what the priest says in the movie Little Nicky “Let the sin begin.” Fat tuesday a day of sin because 40 days of Lent is coming so get it all in while you can. And don’t for get to go to Mass tomorrow is Ash Wed. The priest is going to put some ashes on your head in the shape of a cross to remind you that you are a Christian and that you are sorry for what you did last night. Remember you can’t do what you did last night for a while.
It cheapens the grace of God. Grace is costly. Shall we sin that grace may abound? I believe we should fast. As Christians we should sacrifice for Jesus Christ. Jesus gives us the command to fast. When you fast. Not if but when you fast. I believe fasting draws us closer to God. Nothing is great than our relationship with God. Nothing.
I find beauty in the grace of God. I think we should take it serious. It was paid with the blood of Jesus Christ. Not by works. It is a gift. Costly gift. Jesus. How precious. How wonderful. Excellent. Thank God for that gift of grace. Cherish it.
There is true beauty in forgiveness and reconciliation.
[And, thank you Josh, for the Nouwen book reference.]
I find beauty when I can watch my children from a distance. I find my chest swelling with pride thinking to myself, “that’s my boy.”
hum… I hope God does the same thing when he watches me!
Amen Trey!!
I find beauty in the hug goodnight that I still get from son (although he is now taller than me) and in the hug, kiss and zerbert my daughter gives me throughout the times I see her in the day. Few things set your sails in the right direction than a hug from your kids.
Regarding lent, I think it might be good if some more of us Campbellites participated. It would certainly help break us from our routine.
This world is full of beauty and God-ordained pleasures (most of which we find a way to pervert…) Some of the greatest beauties in my life are my wife and children.
my children…the ocean…my student’s arms and dirty faces all around me…
I saw beauty when Katrina hit and hundreds of churches banded together and helped out God’s children, most of whom we didn’t even know.
I see beauty when I look into the face of my husband of twenty years and realize my knees still get all jellied when he winks at me.
I see beauty in the wrinkled aged hands of my dear 80 year old spiritual sister who sits in front of me at church and never forgets to hug me!
I see beauty when my children really belly laugh!
I see beauty in the face of a soldier who is willing to give it all to protect his country.
I believe that “he shines in all that’s fair.” Darryl Tippens is right: “God made beauty a fundamental feature of creation. Not to notice this splendid gift from God is, at best, bad form; at worst, bad faith.” In this evil world, we must seek beauty.
So, what is the beauty? For me (as I wrote recently to a friend), it is:
. . . in nature. I’ve seen some of the most beautiful coral reefs and tropical fish in the world while diving on the precipitous walls of the Cayman Islands. I’ve dived in the middle of thousands of barracuda, rays, dolphins (the fish, not the mammal), and tarpon. It inspires worship. Mountains, trees, fields, oceans.
In music. Of course. I’m still moved to tears by hearing Sheryl Thomas sing “Redeemer.” The best of Clapton, James Taylor, etc.
At Megan’s grave. Very peaceful. A place of many tears. A frail, retarded child rocked my world.
In Isaiah 40-55 (2 Isaiah) and Isaiah 56-66 (3 Isaiah). In Ecclesiastes.
In — are you ready for this? — sports. In the beauty of a well thrown off-speed pitch. In the joy of teaching a kid who can’t hit how to bunt and run like as fast as he can. In watching Aidan B. slide into home plate with the world’s best smile. In seeing another child stretch on her tiptoes like a ballerina, trying to dunk a basketball on our little goal. In cycling, running, and shooting hoops with Chris.
In friendship and deep community. In Diane. (Her beauty still catches me off guard at times, which surprises me.) In the boys and Jenna. Very soon in our granddaughter.
Thanks for this reminder to be on the lookout for beauty. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:
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.
It’s been nice to read these comments from so many shoeless people.
KS,
“I saw beauty when Katrina hit and hundreds of churches banded together and helped out God’s children, most of whom we didn’t even know.”
But why didn’t God help out God’s children. The way you put it seems to say God’s people got God out of a jam without him having to do much.
Country Fred -
He did help out his children. Not only are WE God’s children we are also the BODY of Christ. We are his arms and legs, his hands, his smile, his listening ears.
Seeing our daughter lovingly helping with infants and neighbor kids (instilled by her Mom - see HW @ #3 above)
Sitting next to our 15 year old last night driving for the first time on the interstate. Confident, yet cautious, respectful (sort of) of Dad’s advice, quoting the driver’s ed teacher regarding things to watch for (ice on bridges, railroad crossings, etc.). Wondering, praying that I’ve not completely blown it with this maturing young man and seeing hope.
And of course, my wonderful wife who is always there to build me up and holds it all together. See Feb 10th post @ http://hwoolard.blogspot.com/
Simple pleasures, simple life, simply undeserving of what God has given.
Lent isn’t just a Catholic event. More and more churches are observing it. Last year Irving Bible church did an awesome job of encouraging and supporting each member to observe a renewal in their spritual life
Talledega Nights (long version)
Lent is a time of repentance, taking stock and self reflection…shouldn’t I be doing this all the time…?
I do love that line and song by Amos Lee.
The lowest paid employees at the restaurant I am being paid to manage are the hardest workers and could pretty much run the show without managers. Most of the kitchen staff is Hispanic, and being trained in that atmosphere fear reminds me about the power of community and the wisdom of God in the most unexpected lowly places. I wish I could make the kitchen staff the highest paid team members in the restaurant. They work for pride and for name’s sake, the are very skilled and efficient, and yet remain humble and patient in teaching others… even with the language barrier.
I see in their eyes the beauty of God at work in this broken world.
As I take a drink of my half full diet coke, I tend to look at it more as wickedness in a beautiful world. What’s really magical is to experience the occasional beauty in a beautiful world. It’s a moment in time when wickedness seems a million miles away. Times like kids praying for kids, a college student stepping into a fountain to be baptized, or even watching the miniature deer graze at sunset near Buffalo Gap.
Love - that’s where I see beauty.
Be it love of parent for child and child for parent, or love’s gift to us from the Creator in the beauty of nature. Beauty basks in the warmth of friendship’s nurturing love. Beauty is seen in the loving outstretched helping hand to one in need, hurting, living in the pain of loneliness. Only love can give birth to beauty and God has shown us what true love is - the giving up of self for others. For me, God’s gift of love is beauty that completely obliterates ugliness.
I’m something of an odd duck, but nature doesn’t move me all that much. (Funny, I think I just blogged about this.) I find beauty in Picasso’s painting “The Old Guitarist.” In listening to Derek Webb implore the church. In getting to know someone I never have. In seeing, and hopefully practicing, dying to myself and pouring myself out for others.
Thanks T. Sherwood for helping out Country Fred.
I’m honored to serve as His hands and feet from time to time.
While He doesn’t need me to serve, help fulfill His purpose and minister to others, He chooses me. That’s awesome! In that opporunity lies great beauty if you care to see it!
As a former CofC’er who has found the beauty of the church year, I believe that the gift of the church year is that it recognizes that there are cycles in this world. We see it in nature, and the church year recognizes it in the spiritual world. The CofC standard line against the church year is always, “but we should do (X) all the time.” However, the church year recognizes that we as human beings have a finite attention span and cannot sustain our attempts to focus on any one aspect of our faith for an extended time. Also that there are so many aspects of Christ that deserve attention and devotion.
As for Ash Wednesday, the main message of the ashes is not to remind you that you’re a Christian, it’s to remind you that you’re a human and someday going to be DEAD. Seeing one’s own face and those of loved ones with ashes on it is a powerful reminder of that. (BTW, our priest admonishes us to wipe off the ashes before we leave church so that it not be a pride thing.)
Preacherman, your words remind me of my father-in-law (a dyed in the wool CofC’er) who, when discussing Muslims who fast during Ramadan, scoffed about it, saying, “Ha! They think that’s going to get us into heaven.” He himself was overweight and stuffing his face with food at the time. Something’s wrong with that picture.
Great words Nancy.
We taught class to the kids (real little ones) on Wednesday night. We talked about preparing for Easter, we talked about Spring and seasons, and we talked about ashes, among other things. Afterwards I wasn’t worried that we’d be excommunicated over drawing bunnies in class, but that we’d mentioned (and shown) ashes. *sigh*
We are at a wonderful church, where I doubt that it would be an issue - but I still hate that it went through my head.
Nancy,
Fat Tuesday if you look at it cheapens the grace of God. Ash wed. makes a mocker of repentance and Lent is working for salvation. You do these works for 40 days and you’ll be saved (sounds like a dyed in wool of CofC’er legalism)… I just think we should Cherish the grace of God. It was paid at the highest cost. Romans 12:1-2 tell us to be a living sacrifice 24/7 not just for 40 days. We must understand that we are saved by grace not works. Grace. Not works. Fat tuesday is about getting the sin as much as you can before you have give it up. Romans 6:1-4 tells us that we’ve given up shouldn’t willfully sin that grace may abound. Cherish. Love that gift that GOd has given you girl. It is the great gift. That is my point.
And yes Nancy perhaps God love is deep, wide, long, high, enough, even for Muslims who fast during Ramadan. I don’t think we can even begin to fathom the grace of God and love of God. I am glad that God is the ultimate judge. I think we are going to be suprised who see and don’t see on in heaven. I believe Christianity is all about relationship with Christ.
It isn\’t illegal, and it is making a lot of people rich.
06dj39qvmqqux521