So, stop. Right now. Look Around. Pause. Notice. In the backyard. Outside the window.
OR
Think about your drive home from work today. Imagine. Remember. In the line-of-sight. Outside the car.
How will your eyes feast on beauty today?
Because there is always, always beauty worth noticing.
“Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every bush afire with God; But only he who sees takes off his shoes, The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries.” {elizabeth barrett browning}
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Destined Traveler.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Rice fields made green by everyday rain.
Three blondes that call me, “Mom.”
Ohhh, love the quote . . .
So agree that God put beauty all around us and all we have to do is OPEN OUR EYES. Just like Christ is RIGHT HERE loving us and all we have to do is LET HIM. and smile.
Saw beauty today: the painting a friend did for me; the amazing afternoon light on the hills sloping down from Cripple Creek toward Divide; the ribbon of road; a photo of another joyful time!
I couldn’t stop staring at the contrast between the tippety-top of the aspen tree leaves against the deep blue sky. Sitting on my deck, of course. The deck that my children were riding their bikes on, getting red-cheeked and belly laughing and LOVING just being kids.
Heather, now I miss Colorado . . . a unique beauty definitely worth noticing.
And definitely missed by this family over here.
Love you friend, L
I have been noticing how truly beautiful the little plot of land we call “home” is. I love the sound of the birds chirping, and I could sit and stare out the window into our backyard for hours. And really, there isn’t much there, but it is what I know and I am realizing how much I will miss it and that has made it so much more beautiful to me these past few months.
I forgot to tell you that the fruit pictured here is affectionately called “Eyeballs” by our family. You peel the outside, and the inside is a white, grape-like fruit. That, disturbingly, looks a bit like a big eyeball.
But we think the outside is gorgeous.
Jonna, sounds gorgeous and peaceful. What a gift to your family . . .
L
I remember how in Zambia, there is dust everywhere, the smell of diesel fumes mixed with urine, and people burning grass instead of mowing it. For the first few months we lived in Lusaka, there was not much beauty to be found. Until the evening I caught the sunset. Something about all the dust in the air makes an African sunset spectacular. And the sky. I realized it was Carolina blue! And trees with hot pink flowers. Beauty seems to survive despite all of the pain and suffering and ugliness. Now that we are back in the States, I see beauty everywhere, but it feels plastic to me. I miss authentic loveliness. Maybe I should look a little harder. . .
Noel, that sounds beautiful. I love how you painted that picture for us. And I love the reminder that beauty sometimes needs to be pursued to be appreciated.
Laura