Is there anything more powerful then when God places beauty in the midst of ugliness?
I remember pictures of the 911 tragedy. While everything on my T.V. screen was chaos you could see touches of love in the midst of the chaos. People were helping people that they didn’t know.
I remember as a child watching a tornado drawing close to our community. The storm had a terrible strength that was capable of destroying anything in its path and yet it was so beautiful and captivating. I could not quit looking at it. I am still fascinated by the power of the weather and can sit and watch storms for hours.
Last year while traveling across South Dakota I watched a storm as it dropped huge amounts of rain. The clouds were thick with thunderheads reaching tens of thousands of feet into the sky. A beautiful rainbow was clinging to its tail reminding those in the aftermath of Gods promise.
I watched a Youtube clip today that touched me very deeply. The clip exposed my self righteous pride and forced me to look at how ugly I had become. In the clip a “not so pretty” woman sang on the show “Britain’s Got Talent”.
Who would have put a pearl in an oyster but God? Who would have thought of making Diamonds out of coal but Him?
I sat in silence as I pondered how God hides his beauty in the world.
Eventually I got around to asking myself why I judge people by how they look. I had no answer but I must admit that I am very judgmental. Even though I have seen God use the least of us in many occasions. So where am I going with all this? Well, I wish I knew. I just wanted to share with you what I have found by looking at myself for a short time. I have found that;
None is as ugly as he who believes he is beautiful.
None is as beautiful as he who prefers others over himself.
Thank you father for sending us your beauty. Thank you Jesus for teaching by example. Now Jesus, I ask that you help me to remain as humble as I feel right now. Preferring others before myself and seeing people through your eyes of love.
Amen
-Larry
