Beauty and the Writer by Brenda Leyland

The Lord God made to grow every tree

that is desirable and pleasing to the sight

and good (suitable, pleasant) for food.

Genesis 2:9 (AMP)

It's been raining in our corner of the world. As we've had drought conditions and threats of wildfires over the past few seasons, we are more than enjoying this wetter one. Mine eyes dazzle to look out and see how alive and vibrant and green my garden looks in the diffused light. Do you think green is God's favourite colour? Such a beautiful world God has created for us to live in. According to ancient texts, there were all sorts of wondrous things in the original Garden, including trees that were beautiful, and pleasant, to look upon. Our world had not been created only with utilitarian efficiency and function in mind but also with beauty for our wonderment, pleasure, and well-being.

How relieved that made me feel. However it first came to reside in my belief system, I grew up with the vague sense that a utilitarian way of life was the more important way. Flowers and beauty were fine in their place but not truly necessary, e.g., planting a vegetable garden was essential but planting flowers was less important, even optional, according to some. But there grew a secret recognition—it sometimes came as a ping of the heart or as a delicious shiver down my spine—in my child's heart of the pretty things around me. I fell in love with the clove-scented flowers in Grandma's garden; was in awe of a midnight blue sky filled with billions of stars that felt so close I wanted to reach out and pluck some with my hand; was ever delighted with that contrast of light and dark in the skies after a summer rainstorm.

So learning that, in the grand scheme of things, lovely trees had been created just for their beauty solidified something on the inside. God was not just okay with us loving the beauty in the world, he'd established it in the original designs for this planet and its inhabitants. I felt released to delight in the beauty and creativity all around me. It was not a waste of time, effort, or resources to make my life and corner of the world I called home as lovely as possible. I had come to see early on that beauty is what truly inspires and motivates me at the core of my being. If I can find the beauty in a thing or task, then I can do it with joy in my heart.

In our prompt this month, we were invited to peruse the account in Exodus 35 where we learn of God's intricate planning for the building of the tabernacle. And how he gave special skills and gifts to various artists and artisans so that his dwelling on the earth would be beautiful in every way. This glimpse of God working with mankind and mankind working with God to create beauty, isn't it thrilling?

So, when it comes to my writing, I love the idea of joining forces with fellow creatives to develop the creativity, ideas, and skills God has given to me, to us, to create. I love that lovely old line in Proverbs 25:11, "A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (AMP). A bit of graceful beauty from my pen to someone's heart. Written to fit the situation and then offered at just the right moment. It's a challenge that excites me. And that phrase "apples of gold in settings of silver", how much more lovely can that phrase be?

As a writer I rely on creating word pictures to show the beauty I see around me. And how I imagine the world might be when it's made perfect again. I write to offer readers what delights me in the every day things, all the while hoping they will find their own inspiration to live with beauty, joy, and creative energy. In honour of the One who dreamed it up as it was originally intended. I write to remind myself, and my readers, to keep watching for glimpses of heaven in unexpected places. These glimpses point us towards the Beautiful One, the one who made us co-creators with himself.

(Top) Image by Andreas from Pixabay

Brenda Leyland writes from her perch that looks out on the garden, the birds at the birdbath, and the sky overhead. You can find her 'slice of life' writing on her blog It's A Beautiful Life. She is also on Facebook and Instagram (under Bren Leyland).