beautiful words

I’ve really gotten into words lately – I think it’s probably a function of having an English major as a new roommate, bringing her Wendell Berry’s book of poetry and Confessions of St. Augustine with her. One thing she has taught me in the two short weeks she has been here is just how beautiful the english language is; inspired by her, we have instituted a “word day” where we will do an exchange of words we do not know yet. Here are some words I came across in my search for my words for today – enjoy 🙂

poetry. my soul.

advice

“out of sorts”

quotables from Sarah Bessey’s newly published book “Out of Sorts”

adventure.

your perfect love.

From [Finding God in the Kitchen Sink] – by Maggie Paulus

hunger for beauty.

Brent and I head out to run some errands and, as we drive, I can’t stop looking, gazing, scanning all the fields and all the ditches. I want to see every tree and every blazing bush and all the wildflowers: to take it all in, all the beauty.

The sky is the perfect saturated hue of blue-gray. It makes the splashes of yellow and orange and crimson stand out, so I can’t stop saying, “Ohhh, look at that! Look at THAT!” I’m sure I’m becoming annoying, but I want him to see what I’m seeing.

I actually feel a pang that all too soon these brilliant leaves will be gone, and I don’t want to miss even one moment of them! If I were crazy, I’d stop this car right here on the side of the road and jump out. Then I’d walk around slowly and give each tree my full attention, and I’d gather all those wild purple asters up and clutch them into a big bouquet for my kitchen table.

I wonder sometimes why it is I’m so ravishingly hungry for all this beauty. These eyes are never satisfied with one day’s worth. I wake again and again yearning for more. What is it in me that compels my pursuit, no matter where I am?

Each morning I pull the window shades, anxious to see the splendor of a new day. Evening arrives and I can’t settle into bed until I’ve slipped out the front door for one last peek at the milky-white moon.

Sometimes I walk out into the grocery store parking lot and, when I see the sky, I want to point up and shout out right there for everyone to hear, “Hey guys! Looky there! Do you see it? LOOK! The GLORY!”

Could it be I was always meant to be a beauty-hunter? A glory-gazer? That perhaps the God who made me and all this I see somehow tucked into me this longing? so maybe, just maybe I’d go looking…and searching…and pursuing…until I found the source that would satisfy all this beauty-hunger…Him.

And aren’t all the beauty-hunters really God-seekers? The glory-starved on a pursuit to gather up more of Him?

So today here I am again on a quest to find beauty. This search drives me to the Source of where it all comes from. And I find all the while I’ve been out looking for beauty, I’ve been feeling my way toward Him.

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “in him we live and move and have our being” Acts 17:24-28

thoughts from Mother Teresa

Currently reading “In the Heart of the World”, the thoughts, stories and prayers of Mother Teresa. Here is a quote from her today about silence:

To make possible true inner silence, practice:

Silence of the eyes, by seeking always the beauty and goodness of God everywhere, and closing them to the faults of others and to all that is sinful and disturbing to the soul.

Silence of the ears, by listening always to the voice of God and to the cry of the poor and the needy, and closing them to all other voices that come from fallen human nature, such as gossip, tale bearing, and uncharitable words.

Silence of the tongue, by praising God and speaking the life-giving Word of God that is the truth, that enlightens and inspires, brings peace, hope, and joy; and by refraining from self-defense and every word that causes darkness, turmoil, pain and death.

Silence of the mind, by opening it to the truth and knowledge of God in prayer and contemplation, like Mary who pondered the marvels of the Lord in her heart, and by closing it to all untruths, distractions, destructive thoughts, rash judgments, false suspicions of others, vengeful thoughts, and desires.

Silence of the heart, by loving God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength; loving one another as God loves; and avoiding all selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy, and greed.

I shall keep the silence of my heart with greater care, so that in the silence of my heart I hear His words of comfort, and from the fullness of my heart I comfort Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor. For in the silence and purity of the heart God speaks.