What is beauty?
How would you define it?
My precious friend Sarah Markley has been asking these questions this week. As she has pondered, she’s opened a door for all of us to contemplate and define along with her. Graciously, she’s given a few of us the opportunity to have a part in leading the discussion.
One spoke of meeting physical beauty. Another of beauty through brokenness. Yesterday brought poignant words about beauty’s true standard.
I’ve written about my own struggles with physical beauty in recent weeks. We all agreed the task of discovering beauty can become a monster. We search for it, in ourselves, in our lives.
So today? I’m speaking of unexpected, unanticipated beauty.
Life beauty.
It was June.
We should have known to expect it.
The thunderstorm unleashed its magnificent fury just as our guests were being seated. An outdoor wedding in the Rocky Mountains, rained out, hailed out.
We hurried to the church. Plan B. Guests, flowers, pew bows, ceremony programs, the guestbook, the string quartet’s fine instruments. Thirty minutes of mayhem.
But an hour later, he and I clasped fingertips, spoke sacred words, bound hearts and lives together.
The clouds outside, though still thick and foreboding, allowed patches of blue to break the mass. Brilliant rays of sunlight funneled to the mountains below. It was a beauty we hadn’t expected and we reveled in it as we waved goodbye out the top of our limousine.
We would be together forever. Facing the days ahead hand in hand. Encountering each season side by side.
Except… we wouldn’t.
…read the rest at Sarah’s blog and join the discussion.
What does beauty mean to you?
Karen says:
Praying for your adorable family! Found your blog through Sarah Markley…thanks for your beautiful post!
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March 18th, 2010 at 5:25 am
Mary Craig says:
I too found your blog from Sarah’s. I read her daily. I love your also. I have bookmarked it and plan to come back often.
Thanks for the post. I believe beauty comes from within. If you have Christ, that is the most beautiful. He is the perfect picture of beautiful brokeness…and He did it for us.
Mary
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March 18th, 2010 at 6:31 am
Julie Todd says:
I followed your post from Sarah’s over here. This is my 2nd visit here. I’m going to subscribe to it now so I can keep up with your journey.
The words you wrote are absolutely beautiful. I love how God painted a picture for you that very first day… You bear His beauty well.
Thinking of you and yours today!
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March 18th, 2010 at 7:36 am
Christine says:
Very touching. I’ve been battling fear lately too as deployment comes closer and closer ~ fear of him changing, fear of losing our closeness, etc. God has already been bringing deliverance and then your post helped even more. Thanks for sharing your <3
Love ya :o)
And as always, I'm praying for you guys.
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March 18th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Jennifer says:
Beautiful post! Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your story with us. We as Americans are truly blessed for families like yours, for the sacrifices you make every day. Thank you.
~Jennifer
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March 18th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Katherine says:
I am praying for you.
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March 19th, 2010 at 7:24 am
åslaug abigail says:
I’m praying for you tonight. Praying that the Lord will hold you, and comfort you and soothe you, and keep your husband safe, and protect your two little boys. He’s there, wih all four of you.
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March 21st, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Nicole says:
Beautifully written, Ash. :) I loved what you had to say and you’re right. Sometimes we find beauty when we least expect it. And sometimes, that’s the best kind of all.
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March 21st, 2010 at 3:05 pm