Perfect Imperfection

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.

Right now, the colors are spectacular.

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

In fact,

I was looking at decay, 

death, and decomposition.

All that beauty from what some might pass over at first glance.

From what could be considered flawed or defeated.

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.

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".

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.

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!

I hope they see light in their eyes,

and love and laughter.

I hope they see that the seasons of their lives that bring difficulty and decay

eventually lead to restoration and rebirth.

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.

For Certain

Meet Megan.

She is a girl who knows who she is, what she likes, and what's most important to her.

Family, friends, faith.

We went to Megan's happy place with her friend Stacy, and her postcard collection.
Those postcards brought back the memories!

Like the time when they were little and Stacy sent her a postcard from New York
telling Megan how much she would like it there.
And then Megan went there with marching band years later
to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

There is nothing quite like a lifelong friend!

Megan loves her friends, but she is not too cool to be seen with her mom.
In fact, she loves hanging out with her family.  It's just not that simple to get all six of them together.

After the tea shop, we headed to the park where Megan's family
has attended many a community celebration and parade.
In fact, she marched in the parade there just a few days later
while the rest of the family cheered her on.

We stopped for a few minutes to let Stacy tell a funny story.

And to document the importance of pillow pets.
Especially Perry the Platypus.

And to take note of the necklace that constantly serves
as a tangible reminder that God is an ever-present companion and help.

Megan is in color guard.  I'll show you her beautiful flag in a minute,
but it's her rifle that she really loves.
She spent a minute amazing me with her twirls and tosses.

We took time to smell the flowers.

To recall Megan's dancing days.
And to hear her mom tell about the way that Megan amazes her
by her leadership and her love for God.

And finally the football players cleared out so Megan could take the field for a few minutes
and do her thing.

Megan, I've known you your whole life, and loved you since before you were born.
I've watched you be an amazing big sister, and share your love for kids with my kids,
with all the church kids, and also in your work.
I can't tell you how grateful I am for the role model and servant that you are.

One thing is for certain:
If you keep loving God and serving people the way you always have,
you are going to leave many, many lives the richer for having known you.

"Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ
and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."
2 Corinthians 2:14