Beauty is A Gift--Stop and Take Notice

"Beauty rescues...because it is merciful, comforting...it heals, restores, revives, renews." 

--John Eldridge

I'm reading a book by John Eldridge called, "Get Your Life Back." The book is about the mad pace and the number of demands on our life. Most of the time we plow through life, getting stuff done, and don't stop to take a breath and live in the present.  This has left us rattled, burned out and empty.  People I talk with are experiencing these feelings in these uncertain times. 

Eldridge provides some practical, simple and refreshing tools to help us take our lives back from the chaos. John is a Christian author and if you want, you can ignore the Bible references, because anyone can employ these tools for a more peaceful existence. 

One of those tools is the power of beauty. On my way to hike Badger Mountain this morning, I thought I would put this gift of beauty into practice. I focused on the beauty in my world; the amazing fall colors on the trees, the formation of geese in flight, the light fog on the river, the beauty of the songs on the radio. 

That was just on the way there! The scenic view half way up the mountain stopped me in my tracks.  As I fumbled for my phone in the pocket of my down jacket to take a picture, I stopped and took a deep breath. After I took the above picture, I did what John suggested:

1.  I let the beauty minister to me and received it as a gift.
2.  I took another deep breath and received the beauty into my soul. 

I was filled with joy and peace at the same time. This may sound kind of new-ageish and woowoo to some of you...until you try it. Beauty comforts and heals. Why else would we send flowers to a hospital room or a funeral?  Research shows that patients recovered more quickly, needed fewer pain killers, and left the hospital sooner if their windows allowed views of nature ( Harvard Medicine, Winter 2015.)

My challenge to you is to slow down and take in the beauty that saturates your life. It's all around you. Notice it. Take time to breath it in, appreciate and receive it. You will find that it does restore and bring you joy and peace. 

May you be blessed with the gift of beauty this week, 

Jan

Jan McDonald
Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

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