Let me just say it: I am vain.
Sunlight slipping behind the clouds, as a five year old I’d
tug on a pink tutu, play my music box (Three Blind Mice) and dance. As I danced beautifully, God would uncover the sun. Again and again. Yes, certainly God loves beauty. I wanted that.
tug on a pink tutu, play my music box (Three Blind Mice) and dance. As I danced beautifully, God would uncover the sun. Again and again. Yes, certainly God loves beauty. I wanted that.
But I must be clear—I did not necessarily want to work at
ballet. I was just pretty sure leaping and twirls and lovely slippers would work
for me.
ballet. I was just pretty sure leaping and twirls and lovely slippers would work
for me.
My parents were a tough sell on toe shoes and tutus. The
currency of our household was “smart”—having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability—not “pretty”. My dancer dreams were dashed smartly (sharp, local, and usually superficial pain).
currency of our household was “smart”—having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability—not “pretty”. My dancer dreams were dashed smartly (sharp, local, and usually superficial pain).
No worries, I ended up fine after all. Now I work beauty into every day as an artist. Personal beauty is not a huge focus, but I admit I long for elegance, grace and a measure of comeliness (even at 58).
Story time: Engineer and I go to a seminar. We run
into a good friend and a pastor of ours from 21 years ago.
into a good friend and a pastor of ours from 21 years ago.
Pastor turns in his seat and speaks
directly to Engineer, while I look on. Whenever
I marry two people, at one point in the ceremony I turn to the groom and ask
him to look at his bride. Together we admire her beauty. Soak it in. Pulling
the groom’s gaze back to me, I get in close. Remember how stunning she is
today. Remember, because she will grow more beautiful every year, every year,
if YOU treat her RIGHT.
directly to Engineer, while I look on. Whenever
I marry two people, at one point in the ceremony I turn to the groom and ask
him to look at his bride. Together we admire her beauty. Soak it in. Pulling
the groom’s gaze back to me, I get in close. Remember how stunning she is
today. Remember, because she will grow more beautiful every year, every year,
if YOU treat her RIGHT.
Pastor then looked at me and touched my cheek and said, you are lovely; Engineer must treat you REALLY
well.
well.
Believe me, I did not miss his compliment, but what astonished
me was the compliment given my husband.
me was the compliment given my husband.
It was, actually, disorienting.
Beauty is a response.
This is new. A different VARIABLE.
Aside from raw material given at birth (and creative
upkeep), there is an unaccounted for variable.
upkeep), there is an unaccounted for variable.
Engineer. Engineer. Can
you feel my love for Engineer pulse and expand? And years of striving to be
noticed in the eternal way of beauty, sloughing away. The dust scatters and
disappears in the currents.
you feel my love for Engineer pulse and expand? And years of striving to be
noticed in the eternal way of beauty, sloughing away. The dust scatters and
disappears in the currents.
Let me just enjoy this moment.
Beauty, a gift from those around me, evidence, left like a
fingerprint.
fingerprint.
Sigh.
Oh but wait, what does that have to do with Do Hard Things?
Ahhh, the work of realizations that bump you from behind …
Well, I now find myself in charge of a beautification
project like no other: not just the power to give beauty to someone, but a
mandate to so.
project like no other: not just the power to give beauty to someone, but a
mandate to so.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is
this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than
these.
all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is
this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than
these.
Do for others what they cannot do for themselves. Love them. Give them Beauty.
Do Hard Things.
*
Afterword: I am thinking about the shine of Moses face after
he had been with God, so much so that he had to cover it. Beautiful evidence of
God’s goodness toward Moses,
he had been with God, so much so that he had to cover it. Beautiful evidence of
God’s goodness toward Moses,
Can I be that good to someone?
I truly love your website.. Pleasant colors & theme. Thank you!
– Mechanical Broom | Vacuum dewatering | Portable Concrete Plant
Yes, Yes. And most certainly this is something I need to think about more too.
Makes me wonder how much the irritating qualities of the people around me are actually stepping stones to beauty. A mandate to beauty, this turns my "need" to be understood on its side. Could it be that understanding is unintended but pleasant result of this beautification project? I have not thought about this near enough.
On a related note, I've started to wonder if perhaps when the Bible says that a gentle answer turns away wrath, it's talking about my wrath as much as the wrath of the person I'm talking to.
I've seen a dear friend positively blossom under the love of a second husband who sees and appreciates her.
beauty as a response…that is a pretty cool thought to think on today…