There is something about good art and the wonder of the artist’s eye that opens our eyes to the beauty that is around us. When we look through this creative vision, we see the grand wonders of creation, but we are also drawn to the smaller pieces that make up the whole. Even each color and brushstroke are pieces of beauty hidden within the bigger picture.

I find that art is a powerful tool for the contemplative life. It helps us to appreciate these pieces of beauty wherever they may be found and trains our senses to actively look for them. When we begin to appreciate such things, we find the world of creative wonder designed by the ultimate Artist.

I am currently rereading a book on creative writing designed on helping the aspiring poet develop their senses and their attentiveness to the world around them. One of the assignments is to go outside, turn over a rock and list three things you are surprised to find. While I have not yet turned over a physical rock, I have been turning things over in my mind. I wondered what I would see under the rock, would there be anything I did not expect? Could I heighten my senses to see what I so easily miss?

It is a good question, not only for me, but for all of us who seek to appreciate the beauty of God in the world around us. It is the heart of contemplation and appreciation, of thankfulness and wonder. To look deeply, beyond our expectations and assumptions, is to open our minds and our spirits to something more amazing that we first thought.

I intend to turn over some rocks, physical and personal. I cannot wait to see what treasures and surprises await me. Maybe, in the busyness of this time of year, you would join me in looking for the hidden wonders and opening your heart to the beauty of God that is all around us. May we be blessed on our question to behold the beautiful things of God.