First: I found this article by Denise Lee Yohn, Working Without Recognition: Finding Motivation When No One Seems to Notice, quite comforting. Working in the shadows, laboring in the quiet, is a tough slog at times. Yohn reminded me of a soul-enlivening truth:
The longing to be seen and valued isn’t weakness. It’s deeply human. After all, God created us to work and intends for our work to matter.
And here’s another gospel gem:
When Jesus lived, died, and rose again, he inaugurated the return of his kingdom—the renewal and restoration of all things to the good and beautiful state God intended in Genesis 1–2, before the fall shattered it in Genesis 3. He’s doing that work through us and through our work.
That last line made me want to stay in the lab and keep composing.
Second: My conviction that beauty will save the world continues to deepen. God captures our imagination through beauty and changes our hearts through compelling stories, awakening us to the possibility that maybe––just maybe––he can tell a better story with our lives. In this vein, I found these words by Coleman Ford profoundly meaningful:
“Beauty moves us, and the beauty of God is meant to move us the most. Anything we consider beautiful is but just participating in God’s beauty and infinite majesty. And while we may only have glimpses of his glory, the Beatific Vision . . . affirms that we will perpetually experience his beauty for eternity. Truly, this is the only aim in life that matters.”
Third: I found the following sections of Mary Oliver’s poem, “To Begin with, the Sweet Grass,” exceptional:
Look, and look again.
This world is not just a thrill for the eyes. . . .
It’s more than bones.
It’s more than the delicate wrist with its personal impulse.
It’s more than the beating of the single heart.
It’s praising.
It’s giving until the giving feels like receiving.
You have a life––just imagine that!
You have this day, and maybe another, and maybe
still another. . . .
And, if you have not been enchanted by this adventure––
your life––
what would do for you?
The simple realization of the reality that all things, physical, emotional, spiritual, actions, objects, concepts, interactions that are good are of God only brings us so much closer to constant praise of our Triune God
“Beautiful, Beautiful, Jesus is Beautiful and Jesus makes beautiful things of my life. Carefully, touching me causing my eyes to see, and Jesus makes beautiful things of my life.
Oh Lord cause my life to really reflect more of Your beauty for all to see a unique difference and know that it is Christ in me that makes the difference.