Sermon: Beauty Springs Forth

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Beauty Springs Forth

By Leigh Rosoff

May 1, 2005

auty springs forth and in this new month of May there is much beauty calling . We seek it everywhere. Are you like me, trying to see the leaves open or the dogwoods bloom?

I think one reason I am drawn to experiencing the beauty around me is my feeling of unease about various global situations. 9/11 certainly accented this unease feeling plus it saddens me to think of people bringing such a degree of harm to others.

The greatly respected Celtic philosopher, John O'Donohue says in his new book titled Beauty that

“Although at first it sounds completely naive to suggest that now might be the time to invoke and awaken beauty, there is no where else to turn and we are desperate.” He goes on to say “It is because we have so disastrously neglected the Beautiful that we now find ourselves in such a terrible crisis.”

To cope after 9/11 I decided to make a photo calendar of moments of beauty. I continue to make annual calendars. It is my way to bring balance to my inner fears. Plus I want to do something to honor the earth that I can share with others. By doing this personal project I've noticed I quiet myself and in the process awaken more fully to what this beauty thing is all about.

Let me share with you a few of these calendar pages and what happens to me in the process of making them.

First something in nature catches my eye...there is a quickening feeling in my stomach… beauty does that… stirs something in the soul… and I have found my soul is hungry for spending this kind of time in the presence of beauty...really hungry. It is like the soul says…”Ah, you are finally ready to slow down, stop the busyness and come home to rest.”

Now having gotten the invitation to be with something, I will take a picture or just sit still… that's key I think to living into beauty… the point is to pause… to quiet..that seems one of the rules… in order to receive beauty's very elusive, invisible embrace.

Later I will look at the photograph or sit with the memory and wait and wait and wait and listen for words to come.

What I have noticed is that this process is more than connection. Yes, on one level we can connect with a gorgeous sunset, but this is agreeing to go to a deeper place because beauty asks for communion… a giving and receiving… a going to a place beyond connection.

So be with me (photo from calendar shown)… seeing this branch of yellow forsythia blooms… and these words emerge

“Under warm spring skies

branch dancers

can only point.”

Then I ask, what is this beauty branch saying to me... and it said these blooms are so filled with themselves there is no need to do anything else...it is that simple.

So the experience I just described is on two levels. First the encountering of beauty which is done with reverence.

Secondly when engaged there is an inner stirring… a threshold is crossed over to receive or experience beauty's voice… to receive something new .

Looking at another photograph. Here is a bright orange tiger lily just after the rain. When sitting with the photo up came the words

“She weeps herself back to life”.

This flower with raindrops on its petals was evoking a deep truth from me… I know about darkness and tears and how by going through the hell of it, a new wholeness unfolds.

Also didn't Jesus weep before transformation? It is amazing what happens to us when in beauty's presence! I think a deep place in the heart opens and starts to sing.

And another photo. This one was taken in Branch Brook Park in Newark when these old cherry trees were at their peak. Their beauty brought forth the words

“Ancient trees understand; still they find a way to bloom.”

This photo reveals another facet of beauty. Here it is about hardship. These trees have labored. They know they are at the end of the journey, yet they find a way to bloom.

This photo is saying to me there is beauty in the darker places of life...it is there with us...ready to be noticed and included. This gives me a sense of comfort to know beauty can be found in the time for aging, in the time for failing, in the time for grieving. Beauty holds out hope for us.

And in this last photograph, a sweet, lavender lilac begins to open… the words came up as

“Bud and bloom contain each other”

These words give another clue about beauty... the bud contains the bloom... the bloom is the bud… there is a oneness… a completeness with beauty.

That's the big home run of beauty. The bud contains the bloom… it is all one… Beauty is about Oneness. It is about God… it is about God in us and us in God .

Yes beauty calls us forth from every place. I've talked about nature but we know beauty in music, art, companionship, mathematics and physics, sports, colors, love, children, faces, just to name a few.

Beauty does spring forth in all seasons and for all time. John O'Donohue is right… it is a necessary and good time to invoke and awaken beauty.

May your days be beauty filled.