Monday 23 July 2012

Thoughts on beauty



There is something to be said about the beauty that suffering can produce.
 I say can because I know that suffering sometimes and often does have the potential to cause a lot of heart ache, despair and ugliness. But it's our inner response to exterior turmoil and painful situations that determines the outcome of the process.
Because the truth is, there are situations and circumstances that will arise beyond our control. But the one thing that is not beyond our control is our heart, will we allow ourselves to be hardened by pain? Or will we choose to be shapped by the suffering with a heightened sensitivity, love and identification with others in despair?
Pain is not easy nor comfortable, but it has the potential to produce a beauty beyond comparison...if we'll let it.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
Psalm 61:1-3

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