If I were a more tech-savvy person I
would post a few photos to spruce this post up a bit (not to mention fix the
background of an earlier blog post, or two). However, until I get more up to date you can
close your eyes and imagine with me…well, after reading a bit further that is. Just be sure to reopen them to continue
reading.
This past weekend we (wife Melissa and
daughters Ellei and Charis) headed to Colorado for a friend’s wedding. It was an enjoyable trip despite my tirechanging practice and lessons learned in parenting (future post). In fact, I am going to post some thoughts and
reflections on the trip both here and in subsequent posts.
First, I will address the title of this post,
“Beauty Where You Are”. As most reading
this will know, I live in Kansas. I have
lived here for all but two of my sojourning years on this earth to date. I like it here. I remember when we lived in Illinois (without
our daughters, well, Ellei was in the womb for a few months while there) for a two
years it was not uncommon for someone to quip one of two responses after
learning of the state from which we had moved.
One was practically always hilarious to the person asking, and it went
something like, “Oh, how is Toto doing?” or something like that. While it did not bother me, on more than one occasion
I thought of bursting out in laughter and after gathering myself 30 seconds or
so later say something like, “Wow, I have never heard that before…you are so
funny!!!” or “He’s dead.”
The other relatively common response
went something like, “Oh Kansas, that’s the long state we have to drive through
to get to Colorado”. I cannot remember
saying the exact words, but I do recall thinking after a remark or two like
that, “Why don’t you just move to Kansas and save some drive time?” The implication of course being how the scenery
of Illinois is pretty much the same as that of Kansas – i.e., “flat”.
Granted, neither all of Illinois, nor
all of Kansas is flat – and yes I do realize there is a state between those two
as well. The point is, far too often
people fail to see beauty where they are.
Far too often people long for something other than what is right before
them. Granted, the mountains of Colorado
are quite scenic. I think it would be
refreshing to see them day in and day out.
Yet after a while I imagine even they would run the risk of becoming “old
hat” if you will.
Truthfully, there is much great scenery
in Kansas. I would suggest getting an “8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook”. If you do, or you
click here, you will see there is more than physical scenery that is a “Wonder”
in Kansas (as is the case in any state). This same line of thinking
goes for the aspect of beauty where you are.
But that is another post.
In the meantime, you must also not
forget the beauty of right where you live.
I am not saying going to a “scenic” spot on vacation is a waste of time
or anything like that. Yet far too often
we miss the beauty right in front of our face.
One of my favorite views is from the
back cement porch at my parent’s home. I
have seen it thousands of times in my life.
Granted, I see it far less often now than when I first learned to appreciate
it several years ago, but I still take the time to marvel at God’s creation through that view in particular when I am back there. Funny, I imagine it became one of my favorite
scenic views after I moved out…or was at least away to college.
Oh the irony of how much beauty is not
seen, or at least appreciated, until it is missed. Irony? or Tragedy? Whichever it is, there is a solution to it…
