The Beauty in Life

The Beauty in Life--

With so much ugly happening in our world, let us turn our attention to the pretty.  Let us give ourselves over to what is good and right and kind.  Let us care for one another even when life is on a good course. People need affirmation that what they are accomplishing is worthy.  That they are walking in a good way.

Celebration must be present in life everyday.  Celebrate that we have one more day to practice care for others.  Celebrate that we have choice.  Celebrate that we can come together to talk about our differences.  Celebrate that we can make decisions about our actions and beliefs.

It is my observation that a smile given is a smile returned.  Is that a little thing?  An insignificant action? I don't think so.  Many of us are walking around in skin that is worried.  Or upset.  Or fearful.  When a stranger offers that smile, we feel part of us relaxing.  We return that lovely greeting and walk away feeling better.  I realize we cannot know another's battles.  But, we can offer what we can to a world that needs care.  Making eye contact and smiling as we meet fellow shoppers during this busy season,  is a way of offering ourselves.  Of moving away from being centered on ourselves.  It truly does matter that we do this small, simple thing.

While decorated trees, twinkling lights and gifts occupy a large part of this season,  giving to others in need soars.  People reach into wallets or their own personal time and offer assistance.  They want others to have one day of joy.  One day with full tummys.  One day when people they do not know offer words of hope and encouragement.  The truth of these acts is the givers receive as much or more than than those they help.  It is my belief that we do not wish to be uncaring.  To refuse to see need.  I think we are all so busy with making a living that we forget to make a life.  We forget to schedule time to think about the real meaning of life.  It is so easy to fall into this habit.  Days follow days.  Weeks pass. We mean to do this thing for someone in need, but we are just so busy.  This is a true statement.  How to change from thoughts to actions?  Something to ponder.

Recently someone in the car ahead of mine in the drive-thru at Starbucks purchased my drink.  That is no small thing.  Coffee costs more than a gallon of gas.  It made my heart smile, and it made me think about ways I could pay it forward.  The person in the car in front of mine probably did not know me.  He/she simply offered a bit of sunshine to me.  A lovely gesture to a stranger.

And then there is this young man who works at Starbucks.  Over time we have become friends.  We wave to one another when I go through to pick up my drink.  We did not share names.  Just spent a little time visiting when the line was slow.  His kindness touched my heart.  I decided to take a small gift to him as a way of saying I appreciate his friendly spirit.  We finally exchanged names.  We have made plans to meet for coffee--surprise--and chat.  He is on the front end of his journey. I am on the end of mine yet our spirits touched one another.  What joy.  I am always pleasantly surprised with the new people who make their way through my life.  They bring new ideas and new thoughts.  A discussion over a cup of coffee with a new friend.  What does it take?  Time.  That precious commodity we all wish we had more of.

We can give hope to those who are struggling.  Those who feel hopeless.  We can encourage their efforts toward a better life.  We can listen as they share their story.  We can withhold judgement.  After all, it takes great courage to share from our deepest places.  We can send encouraging notes, emails, texts to those who need a little lift.  None of these things require one penny.  We do not have to rush out to buy a gift.  The gift we give is the gift of ourselves.  Our time.  There it is again.  That word.  Time.  Maybe we should take a little bit of it and rearrange a moment to make way for blessings by being in relationship with others.

Let us not forget the gift of love.  That feeling that motivates our every action.  That moves us to do extraordinary things.  Love is the compass of our lives pointing us always toward doing good in this world.  Yes, we live in troubling times.  Yes, violence seeks to take away our peace.  But let us never forget that love is the greatest thing of all.

There will always be ugly in this world.  It has always been that way.  I believe we have the ability to bring love into a hurting world.  We only have to look around to see all the good that people are doing. Let us celebrate everyday we have.  And remember that our celebration of life encourages others.