Friday, October 3, 2008

Beauty Among Ugliness

A couple weeks ago, I commented to my mom and sister about how ugly north Texas is - especially in some of what surrounds where I live. Some industrial plants are not far, lots of highway, kinda flat. And then as I was driving home, I came upon this field right next to my neighborhood. It was a beautiful fall day - the temperatures mild, not a cloud in sight. Just beautiful, pure sky blue. The field was a brilliant shade of green with a few trees scattered here and there and some very tall yellow wildflowers. For just a moment, all I saw was the green of that field edged up to that perfect blue sky and nothing else. Mind you, there is highway all around and just behind me is the FedEx distribution center and not far from that is cement plants and more yuck. But God showed me His beauty that afternoon. I captured a glimpse of His splendor in that moment. Oh, praise You Father!

It got me to thinking... There is beauty to find among the ugliness. In a person. In a situation. In a conversation. In a city. In a small town. Sometimes it's easier to see than others. Sometimes you have to peel back a lot of layers to uncover it. Sometimes you have to put yourself in just the right vantage point to capture it. But it's there - so start looking. Seek it out. Be willing to give up your preconceived opinions and notions. Uncover it. Look beyond the obvious. Beauty is waiting for you. The beauty of God cries out to be explored and revealed. Behold! And then praise Him, beloved!

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time...

Psalm 45:11
The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord.

Psalm 145:21
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever.

1 comment:

Jeter Tribe said...

Tiff, this is so true. God has brought me through a incredible season showing me that when I feel most justified to "not" put forth the effort of loving another, that is when He needs me to do so most.

Sister, I can truly say that on the other side of that obedience is the most wonderful field. Green pastures are promised to us, and im thinking there will be many many flowers as well.

Love ya
TJ