It is not that my journey is always beautiful, but there are points, markers, spaces of beauty along the way. Enough to keep me seeking for more. Looking for beauty in everyday life.
Whatsoever things are lovely*…
There is dangerous beauty in the night sky of ripe stars dripping to the earth in the minus 40 degree Dakota winter. A field of dangerous cold that can kill you if you breathe it in.
The fearful beauty of the unknown; shimmering creatures scuttling along the ground in humid places. Is it friend or foe? Poisonous or not?
There is power in beauty that moves, touches, exalts, captures, surprises and changes us. Our spirit resonates to its vibrations.
The iris was the first breathtaking moment of beauty for me. The spot in the road that changed everything in my life when I was five years old. The iris bloomed next to the old house where we recently moved. I came around the corner of the side yard and stopped. Breath caught. There it was. As tall as I. A glorious purple iris. I reached out to touch the velvet petals. Captured by its loveliness. Rich color. Grape-like smell. My first experience with the concept of elegance. The site, touch, and smell captured and filled my young heart.
I have seen thousands of iris since that day and they still fill me with wonder, but the memory of that first one bursting into my world with its expression of beauty that changed my heart forever was special. That one iris opened my eyes to beauty and made me believe in a beautiful journey.
*Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.