” The contemplation of beauty causes the soul to grow wings.” ~ Plato
Good morning, dear friends.
I hope this finds you well and happily welcoming June.
We have once again endured some dreadful times and what do we do to soothe our souls during these times? Many of us pray. We may seek love and peace from friends and family, or we may read cherished and uplifting words. Or, perhaps, we may do them all ~ I do.
I will not try to analyze these challenging times, as I clearly do not have answers. However, I do know what inspires me to move forward and gives me the strength to face another day. And, that is what I will share ~ the power of divine beauty.
“This magnetic pull toward beauty is an inclination most of us carry but too few of us acknowledge. Even if we are aware of it, we seldom honor it as something planted in us for a purpose.” ~ Christie Purifoy
The love of beauty has been with me for as long as I can remember. This love is not limited to the beauty of the garden, flowers, trees, rivers, and oceans. Or, enthralling words spun together so magically they almost sing. My love has traveled to exquisite paper-thin china, handmade creations that have warmed homes and hearts for generations, art that can bring me to tears, and the exceptional stories often attached to such beauty. Stories that may span lifetimes, light-dark rooms, and drive away sadness. Stories that will also fill, anyone who happens to listen, with exuberant laughter. Thinking of happy stories during heartbreaking situations is something I believe most humans cling to as they remind us there is still good in the world.
“Beauty will save the world” ~ Dostoevsky
Long ago, I read the words of Dostoevsky. They made a permanent home in my brain. Please understand, that I am not so foolish as to believe that if everyone would plant daffodils or peonies, it would save the world. I believe there was a greater implication to his words. Perhaps, his wishes were to inspire the best in each of us and help us appreciate the connection we have to each other. A message of honor and respect ~ both are beautiful.
As Christie Purifoy writes: “With God’s help, we can pick up the pieces of an old and dying world, and we can make them new. We can make a place where beauty and peace can take root, flourish and grow.” I believe in her words and I believe much of achieving success with “picking up the pieces” has to do with how we think, what we focus our minds on, how we treat others, and what we do in our lives. Purifoy also reminds us that caring for each other, our communities and our homes are holy work. Now and again, I receive a gentle reminder when something of exquisite beauty stops me dead in my tracks, it is the hand of God who has created the glorious beauty before me. I pause and give thanks to Him for his magnificent creations and I wonder, “Perhaps in 1854, Dostoevsky was a soul with wings and knew that “beauty just may save the world.”
‘Godwinks,‘ for the week of June 29. Won’t you share yours? I know you have them.
1) A sweet Facebook message from a friend I have never met, saying I was in her thoughts.
2) Many bouquets of flowers from Mike cut from our garden, just magically appearing here and there in the house.
3) Two new books made their way to me, I will talk about them later.
Dear friends, know I wish you and yours a beautiful day.
And…
May your week ahead be filled with beauty and joy. Stay well.
“True beauty. . .is the language of God.” ~ Christie Purifoy
Amour,
Sandra
Images: Tumblr
Oh, Sandra, I enjoy your words. You have a wonderful gift of expression. I love Christie Purifoy’s words, also. Yes, God uses beauty for a divine purpose to lead people to Him. His creation of all the world and the people he has made points us directly to Him. I see God in you, I see it in many many people. I see His beauty in the sweetness of your heart that is hurt by the evil in this world. But, sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden and the evil one wants to steal our joy. We have to remind ourselves of these truths. Because we have a Savior that conquered that evil long ago. He will triumph and our joy in heaven without sin and evil will be unending. I long for that day when there will be no tears and pain.
I pray for revival in America. May people seek God and live by his precepts. I have a new US flag and it is my goal to put it out every day and pray for our nation as 2Chronicles 7:14 says,” If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” He keeps His promises and we can comfort ourselves that He has a plan for us.
Thank you for the beauty you share in your images and words. Have a beautiful day.
Dear Bonnie, I thank you more than you can imagine for this beautiful and heartfelt comment. You, my friend, are a blessing to me and the world.
Have a wonderful and beautiful day and week ahead.
Such a lovely post. The lavender picture is so beautiful! Goodwinks – a blog friend reached out to make sure I was safe during our tropical depression this weekend.
Thank you, Penny. So glad to hear you were safe during the tropical depression. I remember the rain that comes along with such storms. I enjoyed hearing your Godwink. Wonderful, isn’t it ~ the sweet little things in life. Have a great day and week.
Sandra, you are certainly gifted !!
David, many thanks for your kind words. However, I am just a WV girl who is trying in the only way I know to make the world a bit sweeter.
Sandra, once again your post touches my heart with the beautiful images, lovely quotes, and most of all your inspiring sentiments. Prayer is my source of strength during these difficult and dark times. Thank you for sharing dear one♥️
Dear Pam, thank you so much. Prayer is a source of strength for me as well, but all of God’s magnificent beauty is a source as well. Wishing you and your beautiful family a beautiful week. Stay well and safe – all of you.❤❤
Your words are powerful. And so is beauty. As you wrote about this I was thinking about how we describe someone — “beautiful inside” (and maybe outside, too!). That beauty begins within — with kindness, caring, joy, love. And when we can do or be that, it helps nurture the world.
Good morning, Jeanie. You are so right. I keep hope alive for those who seem not to have beauty in them and hope that a light will go on for them and for us. Have a wonderful week – I hope you are headed to your lake.
Your words resonate with my heart. Beauty calls to me every day, and I look for it always. Yesterday, when I said goodbye to our little 18-month-old granddaughter, she put her head on my shoulder and snuggled in so sweetly. A Godwink! Today, the first David Austin rose bloomed in my garden. Another Godwink! Thank you for your words to remind us to hope and pray and seek the beauty in the world.
Good morning, Lorrie. Your Godwinks are truly Godwinks. You must have hated to see your baby girl leave, but I am sure the memories are precious.
I do thank you for your kind words, I do not know what we would do without beauty as we continue to live in such a crazy world. Wishing you a beautiful day and remainder of the week. I know your area must be glorious.
I always enjoy your posts, no matter when I read them! Have a good weekend.
Thank you, Rita. Life is a challenge. Never worry about when you read my post. I so appreciate you taking a moment to read and especially comment. You have a good weekend as well.
I thought I left a message for you about this post, Sandra. As I don’t see it here, I must have composed it in my mind and forgot to press send. Let me say I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this post and all that you shared so beautifully. I hope the day will come somewhere, somehow, that we’ll meet in person. In the meantime, I thank God for the gift you are to me here in blogland and Facebook. You shine a beautiful light in a darkened world. Your words lift my heart. Bren xo