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Brett and I have a 10 foot rhododendron in front of our house and, as I am writing this, it is in full bloom. For some reason, the plant didn’t bloom at all last year.  But this year it is a waterfall of beautiful, pink blossoms.  I always love it when this plant explodes with color, but this year it has become an important symbol for me.

Throughout my neighborhood and in the parks where I walk, the trees have missing limbs and broken branches and there are far too many stumps where trees used to grow.  These are visual reminders of the storms that caused so much damage throughout Omaha.  And yet, despite all of the storm damage, my huge rhododendron is bigger and more beautiful than ever.  As it shows off with its flashy blossoms, I am reminded that even when there is destruction, disaster and loss, beauty perseveres.

I have been feeling a bit sad this spring, for lots of reasons, and I definitely needed the reminder.  I needed to be reminded that God created a world full of beauty.  I needed to be reminded that despite all the ugliness in the world - the hatred, selfishness, destruction and cruelty - the strength and perseverance of beauty always remains.

Despite what you may have heard, beauty is not just some surface, superficial thing that is “only skin deep.”  Beauty, true beauty, is both deep and powerful.  There is a reason that humans are moved by beauty - whether in art, music, mountains, beaches, or sunsets - because beauty, creativity, and love are all expressions of the divine.  When we are in awe and give thanks for the beauty God has made by stopping to smell the roses, marvelling at the beautiful sky, or listening to the cardinal singing; we are in relationship with the divine.  When we participate in God’s creativity by painting, making music, or writing poetry; we are in relationship with the divine. When we share the love that God has freely and abundantly given to us, by forgiving rather than retaliating, by being a listening ear to someone who is hurting, by sharing a little of what we have with someone who doesn’t have enough; we are in relationship with the divine.  All of these big and small ways that we connect with God’s creativity, beauty, and love are ways that we live in communion - in connection - with GOD.

There is too much ugliness in the world.  It hurts my heart and makes me so sad when I hear people using unkind words and attacking actions against one another - especially from people in positions of power.  Like the trees that I love, our communities are broken and battered by the storms of this hatred and cruelty.  But the beautiful cascade of flowers in front of my window reminds me that even in the midst of destruction, disaster, and loss; beauty perseveres.  Even when it feels overwhelming, even when we feel worn down; beauty perseveres.  Even when the damage is real, even when we are grieving; beauty perseveres.  Because beauty, creativity, and love are not just nice distractions, they are divine - they are gifts from God.  In all of the ways that we experience and participate in beauty, creativity, and love - in all the ways we share these things with others - we are connected with the power and goodness of God.

This spring and summer I pray that you find time to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation - go camping, enjoy a sunset, or simply take some time to watch the birds.  Seek out ways to participate in God’s creativity, either by making art and music, or enjoying the art and music made by others - come enjoy some music at a Concert on the Lawn at Holy Cross at 6:30pm on June 8th and October 5th!  Above all, rest and be restored by the power and perseverance of God’s beautiful, creative, and never-ending love.