Beauty!

It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it is true that a lot depends on the perspective we take or the vantage point from which our view has been aimed. Life does have its ugly side and much of that is associated with sin. However, life lived with a perspective of God's plan can help us see beauty where others can't.

As Solomon addressed life lived under heaven ( Ecclesiastes 3:1) he stated. . .
"(9) What gain has the worker from his toil? (10) I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. (11) HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. Also, HE HAS PUT ETERNITY INTO MAN'S HEART, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (12) I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; (13) also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil -- this is God's gift to man." ( Ecclesiastes 3:19-13 ESV)

Through a worldly eye it is not always easy to see the beauty in all the places where it may be. However, when we consider life in its connection to our relationship with God the beauty can be seen. When Solomon began his list of the varying experiences of life having their time, he included both BIRTH AND DEATH. ( Ecclesiastes 3:2)

This past Sunday afternoon I led a memorial service for my father-in-law with family gathered around the garden in which he had spent much time over the years. During the sharing of memories, one of my wife's nephews commented that the two most beautiful things he had witnessed in his life were the birth of his son and now most recently the last breath of his grandfather as he peacefully slipped from this life. We too had found great comfort in watching him peacefully pass and through the deliverance by death win the battle over the cancer that had been bringing him so much pain.

When we consider the events of BIRTH AND DEATH, there is the flow of tears with both. On the one hand there are tears of joy and on the other, tears of mourning the loss of a loved one. To view death as but a door into an eternity with God, those tears of sorrow can also be mingled with tears of joy as we too look forward to the eternity Solomon said God has placed in man's heart.

As we recognize the beauty that can be associated with both the beginning and end of our life's journey here -- two events that should be trustingly placed in the hands of God -- let us press on mindful of doing good as long as we live. ( Ecclesiastes 3:12) That too is beautiful in its time.

Have a great day TRUSTING THE ONE WHO HAS LIFE'S WHOLE SCHEME IN VIEW!
Carl

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