That nameless something..

God knows us. 
I mean He really knows us. 


I could go many different directions with this, like Psalm 139, one of my favorites that details God truly knowing us from the deepest inside out because He created us, but this time I just wanted to show the aspect that He knows how to reach us. He knows what will break our hearts and what will leave us in awe.  He knows this about people in general, but also the uniqueness in each individual. And it's so incredible because  He not only carries us through our pain, but on the flip side, He draws us closer and captivates us in the many ways He reveals His beauty. And I must say, though I hold up every aspect of God in all of it's glory and reverence and they do all reach me, His beauty truly romances me. 

So, I absolutely LOVE watching the skies. Do you know what I mean? They're constantly changing and no matter the weather or the time of day, whether light or dark, they're just so beautiful. The other day I was pulling out from home to go to work in the morning and I could see just a tiny glimpse of light from the east before the sunrise. Just from that small sighting I knew it would be something great. So as I turned onto the road for work I went, not in the direction of my store, but to the east where I would soon see the sun. I just couldn't help myself. And let me tell you, it was magnificent. Though photos can never fully capture it, here's something of what I saw.  It was a moment of awe for me. The clouds and streams of light expanded as though they were paving the way for something great, something powerful. The sun. It was a moment of witnessing God's glorious creation in the stillness of the early morning and at the same time a beautiful metaphor for the coming King. 
While we're at it, let's take a little look at a recent sunset too..

love it.


I've recently just begun reading, by suggestion of a dear friend,  A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken, which I already love, and in which he describes his first aesthetic experience. He says, 


 "...suddenly something that was, all at once, pain and longing and adoring had welled up in him, almost choking him. He had wanted to tell someone, but he had no words, inarticulate in the pain and glory...That nameless something that had stopped his heart was Beauty."


Though I've just begun, I already recommend this book!


This real, true, magnificent beauty I see all around me, in big ways and small ones as well. Tonight I visited my dear, sweet two-year-old niece, Sophia, whom I just adore. We had a moment together, while in the middle of a conversation with my brother, in which she smiled at me mysteriously. I smiled and gave her a questioning look to which she subtly nodded. I returned the same nod and she filled with excitement and joy, laughing and turning around. We had shared our own special little secret, and it was a big deal. It's things like this that make my heart overflow.


So, tell me, where do you find beauty?


"The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of he field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

Acceptance.

Here is a post not unlike any other.
It's been a topic of recent postings among others I know, whether the word was used or not, lately, and I feel the need to share something of the same idea. First, I'd like to explain a little about the title of this entire blog. I am here to write, not about one singular topic, but whatever may spring up. I know that I'm not the most interesting one to read, the most insightful, encouraging, inspiring, or what have you. And though I have only just begun, I would sure like to try to do some of these things. The title actually comes straight out of a Switchfoot song. I found it so relatable to me because obviously this world that we live in is jam-packed with people and it can sometimes feel like either 1) you're no different than anyone else/nothing special or 2) you just can't measure up to all of the creativity thrown out by others, particularly in blogging (but of course in many other things as well) because they are all so unique. Well, I'm here to say that I have felt these very same things at times. It's fear, as one friend describes it in her writings. I am afraid that no one will read what I have to say and that if they happen to stumble upon it, they'll think nothing of it because it's just no good. It's not unique. Why would anyone read what I have to say anyway? Of all the bloggers out there, what do I have to say, really? There are so many questions I could list, but there's no reason to. Let's get to the point. I know God, and I know that He loves me, and everyone else on this planet, in an indescribably big way, and that nothing any of us can do (or write) will change that. We are the ones who change, and God is constant in all of His Godly glory. I also know that he created us each very uniquely. At my Friday night homegroup/bible study, a verse we lean on is 1 Corinthians 14:26 which says, "What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification." In a way, I believe the same thing holds true even in a blog setting. This is somewhat of a gathering place where we share, right? And as believers, this is just another tool to edify one another in Christ.
There was a time, in a past relationship of mine, when I did something that I now see was very silly. I enjoy running, being active, and my boyfriend of the time, who did too, would ask me periodically to go together. For some reason, I would always hesitate and then come up with a reason not to. You see, this guy was a runner and I was insecure and afraid that he would think less of me if I couldn't keep up. I really regret that now because a) I may possibly have missed out on some wonderfully beautiful runs and quality time with him and b) I was the cause of creating a different image of myself in his eyes, the very thing I wanted to prevent! A silly situation I regretted, all stemming out of my own little insecurities.

I feel that writing and the choosing of words is an art, and, being one who falls in awe of most things creative/ed, I love to produce such things. Anyway, whether it's something produced or an aspect of oneself, the fear of acceptance/rejection or just uncertain feedback can loom heavy over all of us. But though we can feel like a needle in a haystack in this world - hard to find, lost in the crowd - that needle is quite different from every twig of hay in the stack. I think it important to say, here and now, that each and every one of us all have great purpose and value and are loved far greater than we can understand, whether it is shown to us in this world or not, by number of blog comments or the amount of friends we make. I want to take the opportunity to encourage you, reader, whether I know you by name or not. If I can do this to even the slightest degree, praise the good Lord for that! And I will strive to do so in the future.
I know that this blog kind of jumps all over the place, but there it is. I guess it did turn out to be unlike any other's post....  unique, even.