The last two years I have participated in The Nester’s 31 Days of Series. The challenge? To write for the 31 days of October on a topic of your choice.
In 2012 I wrote on 31 Days of Fall– as a season of life and as a season of faith. Remembering our miscarriages and long journey to parenthood was healing and life giving. Posts from that series remain the most read on this blog. Last year I wrote on 31 Days of Noticing the Moment- pausing to open our eyes and ears to all that is around us. A rhythm of slowing down, of letting our hearts be open and aware and affected by what surrounds us.
This year the word Beauty keeps surfacing. The kind of beauty that defies darkness. The kind that offers hope. The kind of beauty that is all around us, but that we so often miss.
I am cautious as I write, lest you think I am speaking of a pie in the sky, life is wonderful kind of beauty. No. This life can be messy. A beauty that fades when life gets tangled offers us little. This life can be heartbreaking. And it is the substantive, battling beauty that conquers our fears. Sometimes it is a whisper on days that seem gray. Sometimes it is an all out avalanche when despair has us in its clutch.
It is the beauty that reminds us of purpose and truth. It calls us back to our hearts with its disarming purity. It strengthens us to be ready for the good fight while inviting moments of rest. It is something we have a hard time defining, but our souls know when we have tasted it.
I would love for us to join together in talking about this kind of beauty. Where have you experienced it? How does it impact your life? In this space I will share stories of where I am experiencing beauty. I will share quotes and thoughts on beauty. And some days I will share pictures.
Beauty full days. Beauty that stands out. Beauty that calls out “there is more”. Beauty that slices through the mundane, like a small hand on a green boat railing. (Stay tuned tomorrow for that story.)
Where do you see beauty in God’s creation? In other people? In actions and choices? In words?
{Day 1} Vulnerability and Beauty
{Day 2} Defining Beauty
{Day 3} Beauty Invites- Isaiah 35
{Day 4} God’s Handwriting
{Day 5} No Words- Sabbath Beauty
{Day 6} Connected Beauty
{Day 7} The Beauty of Playfulness
{Day 8} The Beauty of Heartache
{Day 9} The Beauty of Redemption
{Day 10} The Beauty of Both/And
{Day 11} Beauty and Bread
{Day 12} Sabbath Beauty (week 2)
{Day 13} Connected Beauty (week 2)
{Day 14} The Beauty of Work
{Day 15} The Beauty of Play
{Day 16} The Beauty of Rest
{Day 17} The Beauty of ‘a long obedience in the same direction’ (5 minute Friday)
{Day 18} Beauty in a Chinese Restaurant
{Day 19} Beauty in the Seasons (Sabbath week 3)
{Day 20} Connected Beauty (week 3)
{Day 21} Beauty in Words
{Day 22} Beauty in Art
{Day 23} Beauty in Music
{Day 24} Beauty Manifesto- I will dare to…(5 Minute Friday)
{Day 25} Beauty in Vocabulary Words
{Day 26} Beauty in the City
{Day 27} Connected Beauty (week 4)
{Day 28} Beauty of the Body of Christ
{Day 29} The Beauty of Legacy and Pumpkins
{Day 30} Beauty of Glory and a Sleeping Boy
{Day 31}
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Yes, Melanie, there is beauty everywhere if we are open to experiencing it! I love our God’s perfect creativity. Have a tremendous month 🙂
Lisa- Yes, the slowing down to notice it and experience it.
Thank you for your encouragement!
Have a wonderful month too.
Melanie
Your page is really nice! I like the way your “Welcome” is on the side and your blog is also visible; then the archives on the side. Mine is pretty plain; I am new to this and not sure how to design it! I keep going back and forth about the background color; the set up and everything. I think I may leave it as is for now…I am at http://scrapper123.blogspot.com/2014/10/day-1-31-days-of-blogging. Any advice and information would be much appreciated. I look forward to following your posts!!
I love the layout of your blog, and the subject!! I like the way your “Welcome” is on the side and your blog is also visible; then the archives on the side. Mine is pretty plain; I am new to this and not sure how to design it! I keep going back and forth about the background color; the set up and everything. I think I may leave it as is for now…I am at http://scrapper123.blogspot.com/2014/10/day-1-31-days-of-blogging. Any advice and information would be much appreciated. I look forward to following your posts!!
Hi Barbara-
Thank you so much for saying hi.
I have been blogging for 2 years and it definitely evolves, figuring out colors and layouts, etc. I love to write and journal,- but figuring out all the blogging how tos takes time- so the mechanics of it all has been a stretch for me.
Blessings to you as you write this month and thanks again for your encouragement!
I like the looks of your blog and your subject! Look forward to following during this month!! I hope to be able to fine-tune my blog…I am new to blogging and keep going back and forth about the way it looks: the background color, the placement of everything. But will definitely be following yours and others!