When was the last time you experienced beauty that took your breath away or moved you to tears? When did you last put yourself in the path of beauty?
“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I will dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Psalms 27:4 NIV
I often think about how God didn’t just make one type of flower or even just single varieties of each type of flower. Visiting Longwood Gardens’ Orchid House is a practical application of this concept. Each one of the seemingly infinite variety of orchids is different and beautiful in its own way. Displayed year round are hundreds of the approximately 5,000 that Longwood holds in their collection. Worldwide, there are more than 25,000 varieties of orchids.
Enjoy reading our blog. You can also listen to the audio by Sarah Flowers.
It’s not just that God made orchids and daffodils and roses and tulips and lilies, He made so many varieties of each. Tiny orchids grow in the treetops of the South American rainforest and the Showy Lady’s Slipper is elusive in its native Pennsylvania. Vanilla wins the contest for the most delicious orchid!
What is beauty and why and how should we seek it? “Longing and Beauty,” from the Being Known Podcast cemented my ideas about how important be auty is in our lives. Dr. Curt Thompson talks about beauty’s origin. Beauty is not a separate descriptor of God, God is beauty. (18:55) The “why” and “how” of encountering beauty can be associated with four concepts, or conveniently mnemonic, “W” words. (15:30)
Wonder. Beauty creates within us a sense of wonder.
Welcome. Real beauty welcomes us, it is not stingy with itself.
Worship. Ultimately, beauty leads to unspeakable gratitude to our Creator.
Work. Effort is required to experience beauty.
Encountering beauty sometimes requires us to “be still and know that (He is) God”. Psalm 46:10a
Beauty comes in many forms, but all beauty comes from the source of beauty, God.
The natural world, the relationships we build with one another, our vocation, art or music are all sources of beauty in our lives. Our participation is required to experience the wonder, welcome and ultimately, worship.
Plan today to put yourself in the path of beauty and tell us about it in the comments below!
Pepper Sweeney and Curt Thompson, hosts. “Longing and Beauty.” Being Known Podcast with Curt Thompson, MD, season 1, episode 2, 28 Feb 2021. Click here
Photos by Sarah Flowers
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
Sarah Flowers lives in idyllic Chadds Ford, where she is steeped in beauty and connection to the land and its history.
She loves coffee and flowers and getting to know Jesus. A lifelong learner, she seeks to follow God’s plan to bring justice to the under-resourced. Sarah is a self-declared serial optimist and melodiphile; there’s always a path to the sunny side and a soundtrack for the journey!
She is a mom and wife and a grateful alumna of Northwood University. Her former iterations include automotive professional and shoe diva. Sarah serves on the Deacon Team at Willowdale Chapel.