Transformative Beauty

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,-that is all

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

~ John Keats

"...there's this vision of the beauty of God that transports us and that takes us to a new depth and a new height. It's one of those things about beauty. You can't capture it in a word or a formula. When you get to that humble place where the beauty of God has overwhelmed you, I think it changes everything. You can say the same creed that you said before, but now it's not a creed that grasps God in the fist of the words, but it's a creed that points up to a beauty that's beyond anybody's grasp."

~ Brian McLaren

It is difficult to to be outdoors this time of year, especially in Washington, DC, and not encounter beauty.  Cherry and Japanese Magnolia trees are bursting into bloom.  Forsythia is in full radiant yellow.  And flower beds are beginning to explode with color.

It has also been said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" which may be another way of saying, "we see what we want to see."  I do believe this is true. However, sometimes beauty catches us by surprise.  I'm talking about wordless, breathless beauty that transcends description that is as Brian McLaren says above, "...beyond anybody's grasp."   This kind of beauty is the beauty and truth of Keats.

Sometimes it's up to us to make room for surprise.  So why not take time today to walk away from whatever seemingly important thing that just has to be done, and create some space for beauty.  

Whatever it is you left will be there when you get back.  But my guess is that it won't quite as importantly pressing as it was before.

  

FYI for those in the DC area, the "CHPC Evolving Christian Faith" discussion group meets tonight at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church to discuss an "On Being with Krista Tippett" conversation with Brian McLaren.  There is also an phone in option for anyone, anywhere!   Please join us if you can.    Get all the details here.