The Most Beautiful Thing in the World is in the Eye of the Beholder

"for glory and for beauty"

Exodus 28:40

So, what did you think?   Or should I say, "How many things did you think of?"

On yesterday's post, I put out a bit of a challenge.  You can find the post here.

Or, you know, scroll down.

At any rate, the challenge was to think of what you think is the most beautiful thing in the world.   So what did you decide?

Perhaps a rainbow?

Perhaps the purr of a kitty?

Maybe nature in general?

Mayhap a winning lottery ticket?

{Yeah.... I don't have a picture of that...}

Perhaps a loved one?

Peradventure* your favorite meal?

{* I do love that word.}

Maybe a mirror?

{Kidding.}

Your newborn baby?

Rain?

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a?

photo credit: botany.hawaii.edu

Okay, I'll tell you what Mr Birkett said.  And I love his answer.  Not because I think he's right.  What he thinks is beautiful is not at all what I think is beautiful, but I do see his point. 

His answer?

Calculus. 

Yup, calculus.  The branch of mathematics that deals with the finding and properties of derivatives and integrals of functions, by methods originally based on the summation of infinitesimal differences. 

I have no idea what I just said.

Clearly the man loves calculus.  I can understand that.  I love math, too.  Ask my son, 'cause he has certainly rolled his eyes a few times when I've made that statement.  But loving something doesn't necessarily mean that you see the beauty in it. 

I hope that you, like I, take that as a challenge.  Because calculus, to me, just is.  It's like finding beauty in gravity.  Or oxygen.  But we couldn't survive without those, so couldn't those be considered beautiful?

How about friendship?  Understanding?  Shared emotions?  Unconditional love? 

How about black holes?  Sand?  Baseball?  The star-nosed mole?

photo credit: nationalgeographic.com

Yeah, that one's a stretch for me...  But his mother loves him.  And maybe biologists.  And certainly his Creator.

The point is in looking at things with new eyes.  Finding appreciation and giving thanks for the world being just as it is.  Just as He created it.

~ "Give to the Lord the glory due His name;

Bring an offering,

and come before Him.

Oh worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!" ~

1 Chronicles 16:29

~