Finding Beauty

Everywhere you look there’s complexity. In water, underground, on land, in the air, and even out in space. It’s as if everything can’t simply just be as it is, but must burst forth with vibrance and beauty. After enjoying new beauty like this for a bit we label it as “normal” and toss it into an ever-increasing pile of things we take for granted as we continue on complaining about life. Why do we stop finding beauty in the simple things? 

The Ungrateful Hunger for “More”

Just this last week I was in California on a whale watching tour. The first thing we saw was a pod of dolphins. You should have heard the shouts of amazement from me and the other two dozen passengers. Just thirty minutes later we got to see a blue whale (the largest animal to ever live). It was amazing. On the way back, we came across some more dolphins, this time our reaction was very different. Most people didn’t even get up from their seats to see them. Why was this? How had something that amazed us so much just an hour before now become boring?

I think this happens because our brains have been trained by culture to move from one thing to the next. We always need to be doing something, and we have a hard time slowing down to just enjoy what is around us and be present. This is beauty: to stop and let the simple beauty fill us. To not worry about the storms all around us, but to simply dwell in one spot and think only of the present moment and the wondrous beauty around us.

Finding Beauty

There’s absolutely nothing (except evil) in our world that doesn’t declare God’s glory through its intelligent design. It’s because of this God says in Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

So, if God’s Creation constantly declares his glory, then why don’t we see it? or at least why aren’t we emotionally moved by it?

We do see it, and we are moved by it, or at least we were moved by it. And that is the problem. The beauty has ceased to mesmerize us. Just watch a child the first time they encounter snow or a butterfly. They are transfixed. So awed by the new mystery that they can hardly think. Unfortunately, this awe begins to fade as they continue to experience it and stop finding beauty in it. What once drew awe from our souls begins to slide into the dangerous category we call “normal”.

When we call something normal, we strip it of its beauty, forsake the immense creativity and design by our creator, and toss it into a box of things we consider unimportant. This is what we do with the wonderful gift God gave us called creation.

Living in Awe

If only we could live each day finding beauty in creation and fully appreciating the gift of life we have. The beauty of the invisible air as it moves through trees, holding the perfect balance of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon-dioxide to allow us to breathe every day. The beauty of a seed as it allows itself to perish in the soil in order that it might produce a new plant much bigger than itself. This miracle is what we see everyday and yet deem the title “normal.”

God deserves nothing less than constant admiration and total praise, yet we take the millions of gifts he grants us each day and never even think to say thank you. But the problem isn’t just ingratitude, we also miss a wonderful opportunity to be filled with his presence and joy.

Beauty in Heaven

In heaven—I believe—our eyes will be opened so that we can see clearly and fully appreciate all that God has done and is doing. We will be amazed like children for eternity as we learn more about all that he made for us and who he made us to be without any of it ever becoming less stunning.

We will never stop finding beauty in the normal things. The perfected creation in heaven will be a never ending flow of joy as we forever recognize the wonders of our God and the love he pours out over us through words, deeds, and gifts. This is the normal we were made for.

If you would like to see more ways that God’s Creation bears his image, check out my blog: The Gospel in Creation or God Our Gardener

I’d like to hear from you too. What are some things in God’s creation that amaze you?