Yes, There Still is Beauty

Hello, my friend.

I had a different post planned today as I jumped back into the blogging saddle, but I scrapped it in favor of something else—beauty.

And a few thoughts on the recent event that rocked our world yet again.

Often, there’s a fine line after such things. The tricky negotiation of should I or shouldn’t I?

Should I address the obvious tragedy that just happened?

Shouldn’t I gloss over it because of all the other media attention?

Well, here’s the thing.

The media often distorts the picture. Or tweaks it.

Or…flat out gets it wrong.

Before the day’s over, we’ll hear a dozen different stories from a dozen different “experts.”

Some of those experts are knowledgeable. Reliable. Deliverers of facts, dispensers of wisdom.

And then there are others.

You may know them.

There names are “Pete” and “Re-Pete.”

These good folks simply parrot the same thing their counterpart’s just said.

Their version of events is, perhaps, fancier or a little more eloquent.

In other words, Re-Pete puts his own attractive spin on reporting Pete’s unattractive facts.

He uses different verbiage, but it’s the same ol’ thing.

And therein lies the problem.

We’re adrift in political correctness.

Unmoored in a tide of ten-dollar words.

Divested of common sense and big-thinking mindsets.

But wait.

I’m not done yet.

We’re spoon fed cereal when we know how to use a fork…on the meat of the matter.

What?

In other words, we get it.

We get the whys, wherefores, and how comes.

We get that others think for us.

And that, somehow, it tastes better when doom and gloom are served with a creamy side of mashed potatoes.

Heaven knows—I do love my mashed taters.

The reality, though, is this.

Like food, media, or even politicians, there will always be trade-offs. A little good, a little bad.

We’ll scratch our heads and wonder if the trade-off is palatable.

Will we swallow?

Or…will chew our cud and consider it a while?

And will we grow jaded when tragedy comes?

If you’ve visited before, you know I simply have to say what’s on my heart.

Tactfully, truthfully, and lovingly.

Because I feel things deeply, I’m not content to meander on the sidelines and hope someone else addresses what I’m thinking.

I’m a doer.

I must “go there.”

So, here it is—briefly and without apology.

When chaos reigns, is there still beauty?

When worlds collapse, is there still beauty?

When evil runs rampant, is there still beauty?

When heartache lingers, is there still beauty?

Let’s drop the generalities. Let’s drill it down and call it what is.

Sin.

Tell me—is there still beauty?

Here’s my answer. I’ve said it before.

As writers, when we witness such raw emotion and view such tremendous loss, I believe we tap into the same reserve that we use to create the stories and characters we’re so passionate about. While we’re not able to change events in the real world, we can still share God’s message in the fictional ones we create. His message of love, hope, and life everlasting.

You know—truth.

And so, yes.

Yes, there will always be beauty in that.

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PLEASE SHARE THE BEAUTY

The heart of the matter. Yes, I went there.

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Is the picture that’s painted always the truth? My answer.

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Do you believe everything you hear? Don’t do that.

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