Beauty

Beauty.
I see it in a sunrise, I hear it in poetry
In a frozen wasteland, even though I must search fervently,
It can still be found in a single snowflake's design
Or in someone's tears as they search for the Divine

Beauty is something far beyond a model's makeup
More than a painting; in its essence, it is worship
One only need step outside and listen to a bird's joyful song
To feel a sense of peace, knowing we exist because we too belong

You were placed on this delicate planet for a purpose
When you see beauty, it is a sign that you are so much more than worthless
You were masterfully sculpted by the greatest artist
And only by sin was your beauty tainted in darkness

Once, you were clothed in righteousness
But sin took your robes and left you with nakedness
Yet even so our souls remembered that beauty
And despite our rebellion, we sought it out desperately

We built our own gods, we worshiped our idols
Hoping we could recreate our own revival
But without the author of art
How could our redemption hope to even start?

And so we wandered in darkness
In the midst of our brokenness 
Yet only by God's guidance
Could we truly call Beauty to remembrance

So despite our struggle for anything but Christ
He still came to Earth willing to pay the ultimate price
Thus true Beauty was rooted in crimson love
By the scars on his back that proved HE WAS ENOUGH

As a result, in our fallen world
There is still beauty waiting to be unfurled
If only we open our eyes
Then we could begin to recognize

That the song echoing in our soul when we were born
Still rings out across this perfect world so torn
The song of ultimate beauty wrapped in thorns
Bursting at the seams, God's love adorned

Story Worth Telling

The edge of endless water drew her closer, ever closer. It lapped at her bare, dirty feet, at though it might wash her pure of the barren land that coated her skin. As she looked on the rolling, dark waves, the dust cleared away in streaks under her drowning eyes, and the ocean cleansed her feet, and she was ankle deep in a life brand new.

Before her in a small boat awaited the king who dared ransom her, smiling with a wild love that scared her more than the deep sea ever could. And further out, too far for her weary arms to swim, was a ship with sails that laughed at the call of the wind and danced to the tune of distant lands.

To step, ragged and most undignified, into that boat meant farewell to everything, perhaps her own life. She didn’t know what lay beyond but the freedom that glistened in the eyes of him who had saved her told her this was a chance at life that few people would ever see….

With another glance back at the bustling streets and milling crowds as they wandered with empty smiles and empty lives, she smiled sadly and stepped into a choice that could lead to death or life, suffering or joy, but a choice she knew would lead to a story worth telling.

[First draft excerpt of a story I'm finally putting to paper. I wanted to get the theme portrayed in a couple of paragraphs.]