Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Balance Between Beauty and Despair

Have you ever looked out at a beautiful sunset and been in complete wonder of God's magnificence? Or watched a small child do something that sent pure joy right through you? Maybe you've stood in awe at the top of a mountain or watch the gracefulness of a gazelle in amazement. For those few moments all seems to right with the world. Watching a thing of pure beauty as it happens is an incredible thing.

There are so many moments in my life, I have had like these. Like watching the sunrise over the horizon, having my breath taken away and feeling like I just got kissed good morning by God.
Times where I held my child cradled in my arms while I listened to them breathe softly. So many moments of beauty I can remember thinking all is well with the world. I can't help but wonder if these glimpses we get are what Adam and Eve enjoyed before the fall happened.

Then there are other times where I see such pain and despair around me. Children that are hurt by calloused parents. Homes ravaged and left smoldering by fire, leaving those residing there homeless. The casualties of flood and starvation in the world. Disease that cuts through someone’s body and leaves them broken or helpless.

I am astounded by the reality that there is beauty and despair all around us. Everywhere I look, I see both. How ironic it is that something looked at from one angle can look so beautiful but can also reap such ugliness. Take snow when it covers the landscape around us. When you look out your picture window to see white covering everything, there is a beauty that you see. That same snow that comes down in abundance can bring power lines down and cause accidents on the road. Power lines down which cause lack of heat and people to be put out of there homes.

Same can be said about fire and water. To see a fire burning or look out over the ocean brings a beautiful picture. But both can cause much despair when they rage out of control.

The point here is balance. Our world around us has a balance between the beauty in it and despair that runs through it. We too must have balance in all we do and how we look at things. If we only look at the beauty of things we will neglect those in need and become too focused on ourselves. On the other hand, we can not spend all our time looking at the despair around us or we will have no beauty in our lives. It is the beauty in life that brings us a little bit of heaven here on earth. Life would become too sad to live if all we focused on was the despair we see.

So we must find a balance. A balance between focusing our life on those things that bring true beauty into our life and the things that help those in the throws of despair. Although we do not like to look at or deal with the despair of others, I believe we must. We must because it keeps us humble and balanced. It is when we help another out of the pit of despair that we are boosted up a notch to see God.

Yes we can see God in the beauty around us but when we lend our hands to Him and help the hurt and needy, we get to see God in action.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a good word, Sherri, and one I can always use a reminder about. When I see the awful things, and then I see most people, especially Christians, focusing on stupid, inconsequential things (like TV shows) something in me rises up and wants to scream at them. I generally don't, thank God, but it's frustrating nonetheless.

Thanks. Tomorrow morning I'm going to sit and watch the birds for a while. :)

Anonymous said...

good words, sherri. :-)

Anonymous said...

A reminder that in the good, the bad and the ugliness of life, God is right there. He is still in control. What a wonderful God we serve!

nomore said...

so happy to have you visit!

beauty and despair .... loved how you said

"Yes we can see God in the beauty around us but when we lend our hands to Him and help the hurt and needy, we get to see God in action."

Scott said...

Good and bad, happy and sad, dark and light; one does not exist without the other. As I have come to accept this it has brought peace. Slowly I have stopped asking why and started asking what can I do with this. What does He want me to do with this. Thanks for the reminder Sherri!

p.s. I know what you mean about worrying about who and how many read my Blog; I gave up on most of the traffic generators and ads.

Deare Diary said...

Good post. It was good readiing and caused me to stop and think.
Judy

Debra Kaye said...

Sherri,

I want to only see the beauty. For me, seeing the despair can send me in a downward spiral of such sadness. In my maturity, I have come to ask God how He can use me to help.

Beautiful post, my friend.

Billy Coffey said...

You're a very prolific writer, Sherri. I'm amazed that you offer such great insights on such a regular basis.

This one, for me, was especially needed. There's too much bustle in my life. It's time for a little balance...

Anonymous said...

Loved it Sherri! Great reminder for me as well.
You are a natural at writing. Consider HACWN. There's a meeting tomorrow night if you want to check it out. We could go together.

Sherri Watt said...

Pam,

Yes I would like to go. What time?

Sherri Watt said...

Thank you all so much for the kind word and comments. I hand it all to my savior as a beautiful feather for His cap. He is the one with the words.

God Bless!