A vehicle for hope

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 I think the recognition of beauty is one of God's greatest gifts to us.

Sometimes it's enough to simply feel a sunset, hear the laughter of a child, or smell something that reminds us of a pleasant memory - because beauty is often not just one thing; and sometimes the inclusion of one aspect of beauty can help us appreciate another.

God's funny like that.

It's exceptionally useful when there doesn't seem to be any; when things are genuinely horrific; when the people around you are empty, or evil; when chronic pain makes it hard to even sleep, let alone dream. It is times like these that the gentle reminder that hope exists is priceless. And beauty is a vehicle for hope.

It doesn't have to ONLY convey hope. It can convey love. Or discontent. Or frustration. Or any number of things.

But, on some level, the part of a human that can recognize incomprehensible wonder, the part that can connect to one's childhood, and the part that can receive forgiveness are all tied to hope - and delivered by beauty.

It is also why art is so important. Art doesn't have to be beautiful - some forms of ugliness may be considered artistic.

But if a work of art is said to be beautiful - it is probably a vehicle of hope.

And I think it carries a little bit of God because of it.

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