There is Beauty Here

Everything has beauty- but not everyone see it. -Confucius

Never lose the opportunity of seeing something beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams. -Ashley Smith

Hmmm… Life is full of beauty- notice it… I like that. The last little while I’ve been attempting to perfect that art. It is easy to see beauty when it’s the flamboyant colors of the sunrise or the sunset ( We live at the foot of a mountain- thus blocking all our sunsets, and I’m pretty sure I have a deficiency… I can’t get used to that varied color stretching across the sky… Amazing!! )We haven’t had many snow days this year- but when everything is covered in a pure white blanket- the air is crisp- the sky is blue- there is beauty.

I can see beauty the rest of the year without making an effort. It’s everywhere- I could testify that all day long. The green grass- my mom’s variety of flowers, the crops growing in the field… We smile and say “what a great day to be alive!” But it’s hard for me to apply that theory to regular dreary winter.

Winter vs Summertime on Paradise Lane

My optimistic brother-in-law is the one that got me thinking. We just experienced a cold snap and as I was shivering in the house- I noticed he updated his facebook status as he was slaving away at the barn “I’m sure when breaking watering troughs in the 5 degrees at 4 am tomorrow, I’ll regret this, but I’m enjoying old man winter! #fourseasonclimate” That’s awesome really- even if I did make all kinds of comments about him being in the early stages of hypothermia, etc. He was truly enjoying what was at hand. The beauty that TODAY has to offer…

Notice it. So I’ve been looking. Who knew there were so many shades of brown or gray? But then the sun shines and the rays play along the ridges of the mountain and it creates quite the effect… The bright colored birds are a constant flash of color as they dart here and there- we don’t notice that with all the foliage in the summer… The evergreens are laden with pinecones- if you think about it. There is beauty here. But it’s up to me to put the effort forth to enjoy it. Almost like I have to pursue it rather than it pursuing me…

And I think this applies to life as well. Sometimes I find myself in circumstances that really aren’t that glamorous or exciting, and it’s easy to look back or look forward and think “If only..” But today is the day to rejoice in and be inspired about! There is beauty here… “for beauty is God’s handwriting”

I will go on, bravely, Doubting not that morning shall be fair.

For what is life if it is spent in hopeless pursuit of nothing

But dreaded passage?

Then let me lift my daily flask to my soul’s lips

And drink it calmly, Boldly, Joyously!

And in the drinking, I shall drink with God! – Edith S. Witmer

Enjoy today!! Blessings, Kendra

Bonus Pics: