Rector’s Reflections

I’ve been thinking a lot about beauty lately. Maybe it’s the time of year - despite it’s being winter in much of the world, our yard is full of color. Maybe it’s because I’m surrounded by beauty both on my way to work and as I sit in my office. Or perhaps it’s because the need for beauty becomes critically important in challenging times. We are in a time when we need beauty to sustain and uplift us. Why? Because beauty is a gift of God and expresses the majesty of creation. I want to share some thoughts from a variety of sources about the power of beauty:

"Beauty aligns and attunes us, evoking resonance and creating order." 

"Beauty dwells at the heart of life; recognizing and celebrating beauty is to recognize the sacred gift of life."

"To appreciate beauty is to engage wonder."

"The human heart has an unquenchable longing for beauty because we yearn for a vision of the divine – of glory.”

The concept of beauty is important in the Church. It’s one reason I love the Episcopal Church with its tradition and liturgy which seek to embody beauty and thereby ignite a holy imagination. Now more than ever, I encourage you to both look for and engage beauty. Each and every day. Whether a walk or drive to enjoy the majesty of creation, a glorious symphony, a magnificent work of art, a life-giving work of poetry – seek and find beauty. And when you find it, linger there. Allow it to sooth your soul; let wonder wash over you; hear the Lord whisper words of peace and restoration; and embrace a vision of divine glory.