Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Perfect Imperfection

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It's another perfectly lovely autumn in Minnesota.
As many times as I've gone out to enjoy the transformation over the years,
there is no end to the places to discover the beauty.
Each year brings new surprises.

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Right now, the colors are spectacular.

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As I looked more closely, however, I noticed I wasn't looking at perfection.

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In fact,

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I was looking at decay, 

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death, and decomposition.

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All that beauty from what some might pass over at first glance.
From what could be considered flawed or defeated.

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It reminded me of what Ben told me when I picked him up from school yesterday after a chess match.
"Well I won, but it wasn't pretty."
He made a mistake, but he stayed vigilant and thoughtful, and took advantage of another opportunity
to redeem himself.
Sometimes beauty comes out of something that isn't pretty--
and redemption makes it all the sweeter.

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I have photographed a lot of amazing people lately.
My goodness, I have seen so much beauty!  Every one of them.
But I'm sure most of them are hoping I'll be careful to hide whatever they think "isn't pretty".

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I hope when they see themselves they see so much more than
the flesh and bones.
I hope they see the life and the heart.

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I hope they see some of their story.
I hope they notice some of the transformations that may have gone unnoticed.
In a good way!

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I hope they see light in their eyes,
and love and laughter.

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I hope they see that the seasons of their lives that bring difficulty and decay
eventually lead to restoration and rebirth.

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I love the redeeming, restoring God
who made us with delight,
who covers our imperfections with His glory,
whose power is perfected in our weakness,
and whose reminders of beauty ring out all over the earth
through every season's transformation.
I love that He is transforming us, with all of our imperfections,
into something lovelier than we dare to imagine.

4 comments:

molly said...

Discovered you through Marlene at Stitching by the Lake.... What beautiful photos! And you're so right ---it's coming from imperfection, death and decay which is, when you think about it, all part of life.

Skeller said...

Amen. And amen. AND AMEN. Beauty for ashes.

Nancy said...

You have illustrated your words so beautifully. God promises to restore the years the locusts ate and I think He will make everything beautiful in it's time. I think of all the enjoyment we all get from the leaves turning when in fact they are dying. Beautiful post. I am so glad I stopped by....

Tracy P. said...

Thanks so much, friends! Yes, we love it when things are picture perfect, but I think that God's agenda has much more to do with trusting Him to make a work of art out of broken pieces.