Beautiful to God

We think of white fences and wild roses --
of spiderweb sparkles shimmering on the lawn,
at peace in the morning's dew.

We think of sleepy lakes and friendly country valleys -- of rugged granite
mountains and the climbing of ancient trails, at home with wild ravines and forested evergreens.

Home.

Safe and known.

It is home our hearts finger as cherished memory: Mother calling suppertime with hot food at the table; dad making a joke as he drives up. Children washing hands and family dropping by to say, "Hi!"

These things are beautiful to our hearts,
precious to our memories.

But.

The here music, the now wonder
is the truth of people and their hearts, seen and unseen -- known and unknown --
at home or not at home, shining in our lives, their individual beauty right before our eyes:

The grocery bagboy with the limp who rambles on and on to himself -- but stops and smiles back at you;

the cranky old lady at the video store with sad eyes and hair dyed too red -- whose face comes to life when you notice her keepsake bracelet;

the department store cashier with the hard attitude and the heavy accent -- who dips her head when you notice her locket and tells you about her kids through softening eyes;

at the food pantry the tattooed man, wearing a sleeveless undershirt and dirty jeans winks you a confidence and shares a gold toothed grin -- whispering that he slips tracts about Jesus into customer's bags;

the roadworker who drops the vacant stare and flashes a hesitant sweaty hand -- because you looked in his eyes and waved.

God's beauty is his image in each of us. He is our rock and our home -- home
to each one of us -- His family. Let us rejoice in Christ's family. Let us remember to see the beauty of His making, the beauty of his myriad images,
in the unwashed
and the sunwashed
alike.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hebrews 13:2 English Standard Version (ESV)

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hi again! I'm back from a long hiatus and now I'm doing some blogging for my church. Here is the revamped piece from this blog that I shared with them today. Hope you enjoy it!

Beautiful to God

We think of white fences and wild roses —
of spiderweb sparkles shimmering on the lawn,
at peace in the morning’s dew.

We think of sleepy lakes and friendly country valleys  — of rugged granite
mountains and the climbing of ancient trails, at home with wild ravines and forested evergreens.

Home.

Safe and known.

It is home our hearts finger as cherished memory: Mother calling suppertime with hot food at the table; dad making a joke as he drives up. Children washing hands and family dropping by to say, “Hi!”

These things are beautiful to our hearts,
precious to our memories.

But.

The here music, the now wonder
is the truth of people and their hearts, seen and unseen — known and unknown —
at home or not at home, shining in our lives, their individual beauty right before our eyes:

The grocery bagboy with the limp who rambles on and on to himself — but stops and smiles back at you;

the cranky old lady at the video store with sad eyes and hair dyed too red — whose face comes to life when you notice her keepsake bracelet;

the department store cashier with the hard attitude and the heavy accent — who dips her head when you notice her locket and tells you about her kids through softening eyes;

at the food pantry the tattooed man, wearing a sleeveless undershirt and dirty jeans winks you a confidence and shares a gold toothed grin — whispering that he slips tracts about Jesus into customer’s bags;

the roadworker who drops the vacant stare and flashes a hesitant sweaty hand — because you looked in his eyes and waved.

God’s beauty is his image in each of us. He is our rock and our home — home
to each one of us — His family. Let us rejoice in Christ’s family. Let us remember to see the beauty of His making, the beauty of his myriad images,
in the unwashed
and the sunwashed
alike.
———————————————————————
Hebrews 13:2 English Standard Version (ESV)

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.