Thursday, April 29, 2010

Everyday Beautiful Stuff

Many people have told me over the years that I have pretty eyes.  I appreciate that compliment very much, but I have always wondered why I have that characteristic.  How did I get these eyes and why am I so lucky to have such nicely colored organs?

So people may refer to genetics to answer this question, but personally, I think that is too narrow a reason.  Besides, my explanation is much easier to understand.  I think that my eyes look the way they do because I have had the blessing of seeing so many beautiful things throughout my life.  The accumulation of such beautiful things over time has made a combined imprint on my eyeballs as they take it all in, producing a natural mosaic of beauty.

So, I want to share some of those beautiful things I have seen over the past month or so.

·         The noonday sun shimmering off dancing blades of grass in Keist Park.

·         The faces of loved friends looking down with care on my pathetic, broken body trapped in a hospital bed.

·         A squirrel repeatedly jumping onto the window screen at my apartment in a frantic attempt to come in and share some tea with me (I know this was his intention because I asked him).

·         The face of a 6th grader when he has a mental breakthrough in understanding prime factors or the face of an eighth grader as she confidently describes a quadratic function.

·         The joy of an African refugee who gets to share his story and how real God has been in his life.

·         A warm, gooey homemade apple pie carefully crafted by the hands of newly made, but nonetheless good, friends.  And the subsequent eating of that pie.

·         A middle school five piece rock band jamming out for a roomful of screaming peers and satisfied parents.

·         The early spring sun rising up over houses and buildings to bring a peaceful new day to all the cars stuck in the traffic jam extending across the exit ramp between I45 and I30E.

·         The final victory screen in Mario Kart DS.

·         The passion and desire of a friend who desperately wants to cultivate a prayer life that will immerse him in the presence of God.

·         The majestic and wondrously painted inside of an Eastern Orthodox cathedral.

·         Picture texts from my sister of her (far too frequent) encounters with that privileged class of people who own the three wolf moon shirt.

·         The pristine orderliness and cleanliness of the green grass, flowing fountains, and stately trees on the SMU campus.

·         The messiness and dirtiness of the Wesley House after hosting a week of many wonderful fellowship opportunities.

·         A cloud that looked like sharp dinosaur claws closing in to secretly attack the science building.

·         The back of my eyelids during a much needed nap in the park through part of my lunch break.

·         The children that live in my apartment complex playing outside and the sidewalk chalk masterpieces they leave to make my walk out to the car so much more enjoyable.

·         A poem written by a 6th grader in DISD hanging in the hall that was surprisingly good.

·         Encouraging, joyful updates from friends who are far away.

·         And, of course, many vivid and pastel, multi-colored, sunset painted skies that watch over the bustling city and draw the day to a close.

No comments:

Post a Comment