This past week -- well, all summer, really, I have been struck by the beauty of the world around me... the bumblebees in the bee balm and the hummingbird at the honeysuckle vine... the children riding past on their bikes... the cloudscapes in the sky... the perfection of purple beans hanging from their vines or blanching on my stove... the wonderful people in my life... and those in need of compassion who can benefit when we see their beauty and reach out to them...
My best friend spoke about this beauty at her church a few weeks ago when they began six Sundays of reflection called Beguiled by Beauty, and I have been internally moodling (musing and doodling) on her words ever since. Cathy graciously allows me to share her reflection here.
Where are you beguiled by beauty, God's visible and invisible presence in your life? I invite you to Stop, Linger, Observe and Wonder at God's marvels wherever you may find them this week, but especially, in the marvel of your own soul...
Beguiled by Beauty
Cathy Coulter
God is beguiled or charmed by beauty.
But what kind of beauty are we talking about? This is more than our superficial
definitions of pretty. This is about the sacred worth of things that we become
aware of when we sense the divine. We have all had experiences of this. I was
visiting my brother and family in Cranbrook last weekend I came across a photo
of my nineteen year old niece as a new baby and I was so moved by the beauty of
of her newborn face. When I showed it to my niece, she said, “Ack!”, not
impressed. I told her some day she would know how beautiful she is. I hope that
day is not too far in the future.
It is hard for us to see our own
beauty. This seems to be the human condition as we lose our innocence and experience the hurts and
traumas of life. But we are told that we are created in the image and likeness of God. We are worth all
that God is worth and we have a value that cannot be measured. No one can diminish or destroy that
value because it belongs completely to God. There is that in you which no one, including yourself, can
trash talk. St. Teresa of Avila describes our soul as a castle made of diamond. In the centre of that
castle is God waiting for us to come near. Teresa says, “Where would the King of Kings rather be than in
the middle of us. That is the most beautiful place in all of creation!”
Life would be so much easier if we
realized this, that we are good and beautiful. That we don't have to prove
ourselves to be better or worse than others. That there is nothing we have to
accomplish to be worthy of being simply here, on earth as part of creation. If
we all knew this it would be like being in heaven. Our soul is God’s heaven but
we don’t realize it. Jesus knew it, and he knew it about everyone and
everything he saw. And just like Jesus, when we know it about ourselves, we
will know it about others. And others will see it in
themselves, mirrored by us.
Compassion springs from this well
of divine love within us. We access this well by slowing down and paying attention to what is right
in front of us. When we slow down, God can catch up to us and show us glimpses of that divine beauty.
We’ve all had experiences of this too. Moments when you’re caught off guard in the ordinariness of
life when you have a moment of spaciousness and wonder and gratitude. It might be in nature,
it might be with your loved ones. It might be among the pots and pans. It might happen when you’re
walking down the street and see a stranger or when you’re sitting in church and a word or piece of
music touches your heart. Maybe tears arise, or maybe you blink and the moment is gone. These are moments
that God is sharing with us, moments of beguiling beauty. God is sharing God’s very self with us.
How can we be someone who God
doesn’t have to run after so hard? I saw a nice little practice on the internet the other day. A 5 minute
retreat called SLOW...S..L...O...W. Stop, linger, observe and wonder. I tried it out on a walk when I
was feeling more like getting my walk in than stopping and lingering. I stopped in the presence of a
beautiful acacia tree that has caught my eye more than once. I actually set the timer on my phone for 5
minutes and I stood in the shade and lingered. I felt a little silly but I focused on observing the tree. I
gradually relaxed and noticed all the dragonflies floating around, and the sharpness of the blue sky
against the yellow-green leaves. I gradually developed a sense of wonder which stayed with me as I
continued on my walk, for a few more minutes anyway, until my thoughts began to chase each other around
again. That’s a very intentional practice. But the moments that catch us off guard can also be times to
practice SLOW. Stop when you notice you’ve become absorbed in something beautiful. Linger in
that space. Observe what is happening inside you. Allow a feeling of Wonder to arise. Bit by bit, God’s
grace will allow you to know the beauty of yourself, and of others and of all things. Pretty,
unpretty... all beautiful.
This well of divine love that we
can access when we become aware of these moments of beauty are the springs that nourish that cedar
tree in Ezekiel (31:3-7).
You are like mighty Assyria,
which was once like a cedar of Lebanon,
with beautiful branches that cast deep forest shade
and with its top high among the clouds.
4 Deep springs watered it
and helped it to grow tall and luxuriant.
The water flowed around it like a river,
streaming to all the trees nearby.
5 This great tree towered high,
higher than all the other trees around it.
It prospered and grew long thick branches
because of all the water at its roots.
6 The birds nested in its branches,
and in its shade all the wild animals gave birth.
All the great nations of the world
lived in its shadow.
7 It was strong and beautiful,
with wide-spreading branches,
for its roots went deep
into abundant water.
You are that tree giving shelter and shade to others.
You are majestic in your beauty with your spreading boughs, your roots reaching
deeply into an abundance of water.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
