Tag: Beauty

Love in Beauty

The MV Exam, for me, is a reminder of how beautiful the community really is. These individuals took the exam because they are drawn to the community so much that some are even discerning to be full-time pastoral workers—people who end up giving their lives to the Lord through the community. They are captivated, and like anything truly beautiful, it would take one a long time to find out the details that makes it so. Being an MV and FTPW is wonderful because we get to see the details that make up the beauty of the Lord in our community like we’ve never seen or experienced before.

May our discernment be drawn by love in beauty. Amen.

Beauty Attracts

“Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.” —St. Augustine

Beauty attracts. If I’m living in a way that repels people or if people do not feel comfortable when I’m around, then I really need to take a look at myself and ask “am I truly letting love grow within me?” Do I truly see the other person’s “I”? Do I really consider the other person before and above myself? Am I really “third”?

Sometimes I can fool myself to believing I’m loving the way I should. Sure, I’m praying, going to Mass, and studying the faith, but do I truly love God in others through the way that I speak to them, serve them, consider them, and deny myself for them? Or do I hold back? Do I doubt that the Lord can really change my heart of stone into flesh?

Heavenly Father, help me to love! Help me to get out of myself and stop being so selfish and egotistical. Help me to lose my life for Your sake. Please, O LORD, take my heart of stone, and turn it into flesh. Amen.

Make You Feel My Love

The winds of change are blowing wild and free,
You ain’t seen nothin’ like me yet.
– Bob Dylan

The drive to Calgary means that you go across British Columbia. You see lakes and rivers, mountains and trees – so close to the clouds you can literally see the rays of sunshine. Every single thing is so beautiful. And all I could focus on during the 10+ hour drive is how great our God is.

When it was cloudy and dark during the drive, we asked for sun, and right away God shone a ray of light out of the clouds. And when it was too bright, God sent us clouds to ease our eyes. And when the rain poured down, as soon as we asked God to stop it, He did.

That is the glory and might of our God. He answers all our prayers. It was as if God was telling me, without any doubt, that He hears me. And that He can answer my prayers immediately, if He wants. And just because I’m unsure of His call doesn’t mean that He isn’t going to make it clear soon. He can calm the storm and bring light to darkness – He will surely hear my prayers.

And if God created all the beauty I’ve ever seen – how glorious and breathtaking will our God be?

PGGB