Soon after Michael and I first met, in the fall of 2007, he asked me what my definition of "Beauty" was, as a casual conversation starter. It took me a little while, but a few day later I was able to put my thoughts into words. The following note is what I composed at that time....
What does a mighty, rugged, snow-covered mountain and a delicate, soft, rain-misted flower have in common?... Beauty.
In its purest form - unaffected by this corrupt world - beauty is something that brings hope. Specifically, everything the Lord gives us that reflect the unshakable hope we have in Christ, for as it says in Scripture, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…” (James 1:17).
A bright sunrise brings hope for a blessed day, just as a burning sunset causes hope for a peaceful night. A rushing river and towering mountains fill us with hope for the One greater and more powerful than ourselves. An attractive person makes other people hope for personal beauty, or at least the companionship of beauty. A shining smile makes others hope for friendship and acceptance. And, a person living out a close, passion-filled relationship with Christ make us hope for a relationship with Him that equals, or exceeds, that which we see.
It’s like the sound of an orchestra warming up when they are already on stage, right before the conductor walks out. It is the beautiful, thrilling sound of hope! Hope in the amazing, God-reflecting music that will be pouring out of their instruments in mere moments. That emotion, to some extent, is mimicked whenever we come face to face with beauty; an excitement and thrill for something great.
This is why we can look at a moment filled with pain, such as a fire-fighter standing amidst the rubble of the NY World Trade Centers, and yet still see beauty. We see the hope that the Lord is powerful, sovereign, and providing even in the midst of the most difficult circumstances.
Beauty described in scripture is many things, including wisdom, knowledge, worship, sacrifice, the Church, our Lord, and even the feet of those who bring good news. However, when I attempt to put into words the very definition of what I see as beauty, I see something beyond what is being called “beautiful.” When I label something as beautiful, I see in it a reflection of the Lord God Almighty, the Ever Eternal Beautiful One.
Scriptural References: Wisdom (Ezekiel 28:7), Inward (1 Peter 3:4-5), Knowledge (Proverbs 24:4), Sacrifice/worship (Matthew 26:10), The Church (Revelations 21:2), The Lord (Psalm 27:4 & Isaiah 28:5), Feet (Romans 10:15 & Isaiah 52:7)
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