On Beauty

For now I am still here. I don't know how long that will be the case. Perhaps I was worried over nothing. I sincerely hope so, but I'll still proceed as though I have plenty to worry about. Now the rest of this, thankfully will not be about my personal problems.

Many of us desire some connection with God, but do not know how to achieve it. The problem is we are told that there's a certain way in order to do it, but I think it's not as simple as conforming to prescribed rituals. When I was younger, I felt the deepest spiritual connections when on hikes in the forest or camping out of doors.

I don't think it's something special about being out of doors, I think it's more that forests are beautiful places. Something about beauty itself refreshes the human spirit and makes us more prepared to face our daily challenges.

How do you connect? Do you feel a church is necessary? I'm not saying this is wrong. Churches provide a sense of community and a support network through times of trouble, but they should not dictate our relationship – if we have one – with a higher power.

The truth is that how we connect is not dependent upon a single building or place for all of us. It varies with the individual. Some seek it through meditation, some through prayer, and others by trying to understand the natural world.

A poet said once that “What the eye perceives as beauty must be truth.” I think it's more than that. When w see beauty what we are seeing as God's creation which we often forget that we ourselves are part of. it.

Perhaps those of us in the depths of depression need beauty more. In many ways our spirits are weary with what we perceives as the care of our world. Getting out and seeing the wonders of the world once a while can have an amazing effect on renewing our spirits. Going for a walk is also a great way to take time for yourself to think and get some exercise.