I See Beauty

Have you ever been stopped dead in your tracks when beauty shows up?

I see beauty everywhere, and I treasure beauty in all things. How about you? Do you notice all of the beautiful things that surround you?

Today I'd like to take a stab at expressing my deep appreciation for the beauty I see all around me.

In this article, I will be exploring the many hues, forms, and expressions of beauty.

The beauty themes for this hub are as follows: Artistic Beauty, Beauty of Nature, Beauty of Flowers, Beautiful Heart, Beautiful Music and Beautiful Words.

Have you ever stood by and watched an artist at work? Have you experienced the intrigue and mystery of a picture that unfolds before your eyes? The artist takes the vague ideas floating in his brain and with his brush, creates a concrete, original concrete masterpiece.

The painter's artistry transforms a blank canvas into a world of wonder. A story unravels as his skilled hand applies paint to the canvas. His painting evolves into an exclusive piece of art. I stand in awe and wonder at the master behind the painting.

The artists' mind intrigues me. What makes him tick? What goes on in his brain as he paints? What does he foresee as he masterfully melds colors together and touches the canvas with strokes and splatters of paint?

The artist holds a story in his imagination and with his creator's eye, he sees a world that most people miss. He see's beyond the physical and conjures up images, he cannot rest until he is immersed in the art of creating something out of nothing. His filled brush pushed by inspiration, tells a story. The finished work is the creation originated from the heart. It is a treasure to behold.

Artistic beauty reaches out and blesses. The man I have featured for you (illustrated picture above) is Mitchell Tolle. I know this man personally, have visited his studio and proudly display some of his works on my walls.

Knowing the artist is very special to me because Mitchell is a man of integrity with deep waters of wisdom flowing through his being. Check out his website to view more of his creative works.

There is nothing so beautiful as the colors, textures, and fragrances of nature.

Standing by the big lake, I get lost in the hues of blues and greens. The watercolors found in the coolness and movement of the deep waters, fill me up. I am mesmerized by the mighty waves rippling to shore.

While driving to the beach, we pass farmland. The fields of wheat, gracefully dance in the wind. I can imagine, as we pass, they wave their slender arms to us. These beauties are provisions tended to by faithful farmers.

The smell of fresh cut earthy grass runs deep through my childhood memories. The trees change in the fall with brilliant blushing colors which too soon wistfully make their way to the ground. There is majestic beauty in nature, but you must choose to stop your brain and open your eyes to see it.

Muted hues of orange, red, purple and pink fill the sky at sunset. It takes my breath away. To sit on the beach's edge is delightful but it is dramatic at sunset. Waiting for the sun to sink into the waters the moments linger peacefully. I sit quietly and reverently studying the picturesque beauty of the skies.

As the sun draws close to the waters, I consciously fill up my memory and my soul with the Master's handiwork. How blessed it is to witness the master designer putting His world to sleep.

Anyone who knows me well knows of my love of flowers. A gift of flowers touches my heart and fills my senses in a way I cannot express.

I feel pure joy at the sight of flowers. I adore their delicacy, color, touch, shapes and pungent scents.

The fragrances range from soft and sweet to succulent and luxurious. All it takes is one whiff of a lilac bush, and I’m off to a place where pleasure and beauty reigns.

I have a Magnolia tree in my front yard. It was a gift from my sweet daughter. She surprised me one day because she knew I was going through a rough time. I was touched and I cried and cried with JOY. She blessed me with her thoughtfulness and with a gift she knew I would treasure.

A beautiful heart is a heart that has been tended to carefully and purposefully. It does not tolerate weeds of ugliness, hatred, lies or wrath. These intruders will not grow wild in its soil.

The beautiful heart is diligent to pull these destructive weeds as soon as they pop out. The beautiful heart quickly plants fresh virtues to grow in its place. These virtues thrive.

A beautiful heart holds kindness, forgiveness, mercy, patience, and humility within. Love is the dominating force, and it covers a multitude of sins.

Let me share with you the most beautiful description of love I have ever heard. It comes from the Word of God. "Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." I Cor. 13:1-8

Do you know how to love? Did you notice, in the description above, that love is not a feeling but an action? For example, Love:

• Is Patient .. something we must choose to practice.
• Does not envy - Love chooses contentment
• Does not boast - Chooses to think of others more highly than itself.
• It is not proud - Gives glory to whom glory belongs

and so on...

A beautiful heart is drawn to the beautiful one who creates beauty out of the ash heaps of our lives:

"God so loved us that he gave His one and only Son so that anyone who believes in Him will live eternally." John 3:16

Though we, like sheep, turned our back on Him and gone our own way .. he pursued us and provided the way to restore us. He gave His life so that we might live, abundantly and eternally.

What more could He do?

Music is a language that touches the soul deeply and profoundly.

As we allow ourselves to get caught up in its beauty, our emotions lie bare.

Beautiful Music takes us places we have never explored.

It's flowing and beautiful melodies delve into the secret places within and lift us up from the pits.

Allow me to share, with a few videos, my idea of beautiful music.

Nothing gets to my soul so deeply as well-crafted words .. words sculpted by the finest of minds. I have found deep inspiration by authors here on the hubs, and I revel in the words they implement to make their writings come alive with depth and beauty.

The book of Proverbs is filled with beautiful words that make one wise. Many treasures wait to be discovered through this book of wisdom. In Proverbs, it is promised that if you seek wisdom, with all of your heart ..you will find it.

This book of the Bible is poetic and filled with good things. I recommend reading one chapter of the book of Proverbs a day. You will be amazed at the wisdom and answers to life that it holds.

Proverbs 25:11 says "a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" Isn't that Beautiful? As you take in the words and meditate on the book of Proverbs the beauty within you will grow.

A writer holds so much power with his pen. He has a gift with words. He uses that gift to take you places you've never been. He stirs up emotions you didn't even know existed.

Beauty is perceived differently from one person to the next. For instance, let me share an example.

Picture the beauty of a toddler covered in her lunch. Food is all over the baby's face, hands and clothes. Next thing you know the baby reaches for you. You note the child's bright smile and twinkling eyes. Just then you hear a tiny voice say, "I wanna kiss, please." Do you think this toddler is beautiful?

When I look at this child, I am swept away by his innocence and unabashed expression love. Oh, how this beautiful child touches me. Some of you are thinking, well she better not touch me.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To view beauty through the eyes of God is to behold true beauty.

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting."
Charles Kingsley

"The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain, children, all our lives."
Albert Einstein

"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."
Albert Einstein

I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life - Abraham Lincoln

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." I Peter 3:3-4

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30

"Love is the beauty of the soul."
Saint Augustine

I hope that as you have read this hub on beauty, you have been inspired to set aside distractions and open your eyes to the authentic beauty that surrounds you.

In this writing, I have only skimmed the surface on the subject of beauty. To thoughtfully explore every area of beauty would take me the rest of my life.

As you open your heart to beauty allow gratitude to fill your heart. God the creator and lover of your soul is the author of beauty.

Give Thanks! Let beauty lead us to worship and adoration of our Father God and His Son Jesus, who made it all.