“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." ~ Psalm 19:1
A dear
friend sent me a card in the mail today.
On the outside of the card was a Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park
on the eastern foothills of the Qilian Mountains in Gansu, China. The geological park has a spectacular Danxia
(/dan-sshyaa/ ‘red cloud’) landform area that covers about 19 square miles. A masterpiece of nature, the colorful
mountain ridges resemble an inverted palette from heaven.
The inside verse read “Beauty will save the world.” It brought a smile to my face and to my heart as I considered all the beauty of this world.
I thought about the soulful melodies of summertime cicadas,
butterflies dancing in a twirl of color, and the dedication and teamwork of
tiny ants.
It made me think of brilliant, jagged bolts of lightning
against a graphite sky, spiking silently to an unsuspecting ground - its
thunderous warning always too late.
The forest comes to mind - its
orchestra playing one enchanting symphony after another. Her leaves dance to a silent rhythm,
whispering their songs to the wind.
Everyone loves the serenity of a desert sunset, but sunrises
filling the skies with shades of peach and magenta, amber and rose, radiate
hope, a fresh start, another chance to live.
I thought of the endless variety of animals from humble
beetles to enchanting birds of every color, from beluga whales to red pandas;
from chameleons in disguise to blinking lightening bugs; from cheetahs to
sloths – each unique and spectacular in their own way.
And as I remembered the deafening roar of Niagara’s
waterfall, the sweet smell of jasmine and honeysuckle, and the overpowering magnificence
of the Grand Canyon, shots of adrenaline rushed straight to my soul.
Yet, I knew that it wasn’t the splendor of any of these
things that could save our world. Instead,
it was the beauty of human souls - so full of love for God, for each other, and
for all He created that would save our planet. It’s His love working through wonderful,
caring people that will transform our world into the place God intended it to
be.
The friend who sent me this card is one of these people. She, her husband and their dying son face many
struggles right now. Still, she
continues to share her love and God’s grace every single day. Her shining example makes God smile, Heaven
sing and the Angels rejoice.
Focus on silver linings. Count your blessings. Smell the roses – these are not clichés. The health benefits of practicing gratitude
are wide-ranging - and maybe even a bit surprising: improves your immune
system, lowers your risk of mental health issues and increases your tendency
for exercise, healthier diets and more rewarding connections with others. If you believe it you can achieve it!
