Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
On a list of what is important in life, the picture that shows up on a computer’s desktop is about a gazillionith of the way down the list. Yet, for some deep and unfathomable reason, it has always been important to me. Avoiding extensive psychoanalysis on this, I’ll opt for the simplest reason: I get bored looking at the same photo all the time. I love mountains and lakes; my wife has a long-standing love affair with the ocean. So I move back and forth between the two, spending more time than I care to admit trying to find just the right picture.
We have had some absolutely splendid fall afternoons of late: gentle breezes, cloudless blue sky, brilliant sunshine, and trees beginning to share their fall splendor. One day last week, I was out in our backyard late in the afternoon, that time when the lowering sun sends its angled rays through the trees, turning leaves into miniature works of art and creating fascinating patterns of light and shadow. I turned to face the direction of the sun and was struck by the sparkling beauty resident in our backyard! I have always enjoyed nature photography; this was a sight worth capturing. So I retrieved our camera and took a few shots from varying angles. The result? We now have a gorgeous new photo gracing our computer screen.
‘Tis the time of year when we often travel significant distances to take in the annual display of nature’s multi-colored pallet. As well we should. The colorful panoramas can take our breath away. Yet, in our pursuit of beauty, it is easy to overlook what is close at hand. In our yards and neighborhoods we will not be treated to mountain vistas or the sight of froth-capped waves tumbling onto bright sand. No, our very local beauty is simpler though no less elegant. We just need to look with renewed appreciation at what is close at hand. It can be a wonderfully surprising venture.
Jesus once counseled his listeners to consider the lilies of the field and the birds of the air for the truths they conveyed concerning the nature of God. Prior to theological reflection, however, folk first had to notice the flowers and the birds. Busyness is not a modern phenomenon. In our haste to go from place-to-place and accomplish as many goals as possible, we can, and often unfortunately do, charge ahead, oblivious to our surroundings and the beauty that is nearby. Jesus knew that and so implored us to stop and look.
We have a neighbor who is trained in landscape architecture. In his backyard, he has created a stunning garden with stone-lined walkways that wend their way through flowering bushes and plants. It is a quiet place that invites one to linger and appreciate nature’s gifts. Apart from his very evident skill, what is truly remarkable about his creation is that most of it cannot be seen from his home. He fashioned it so that golfers on the course behind us can enjoy it as they move along to the next hole. I certainly hope that they do stop or, at the very least, slow down enough to notice and take in the beauty he has designed for them.
What natural loveliness lies close to your home and neighborhood? Here is an experiment to engage in: try looking at your immediate surroundings through the eyes of a photographer. What striking pictures await discovery? Consider your own backyard and the surprising, delightful sights that await your attention. One need not travel to the mountains or the shore to marvel at beauty which touches the soul. Thankfully!
~Steve Garvey