Abounding Beauty

(this is Jen fixing a previous post, May 6)

For the past few weeks, my mind has been incredibly opened to the power and presence of beauty. Perhaps it is the arrival, the in-breaking and the blossoms of Spring that have sprung this one on me. I have a tendency to let reality stifle creating beauty in my life. But for some reason, beauty makes me thankful, hopeful and joyful. This should not be a surprising find given that some Catholic friends I met who have a prison ministry in their home spoke so much about a theology of beauty and how their home was meant to reflect that.

When I actually get around to cleaning my house, it pushes me to be more thankful for what I have. There is something bizarrely wonderful about taking care of something, polishing it up, experssing a hidden inner beauty, and having the comittment to tidy everything up just a week later. But I know that when my house it clean, I get a chance to rejoice in the beauty that I create through decorating as it fuses with God's gifts: bright sunlight coming through a room, an inherited piece of furniture or birds chirping as background music to a beautiful morning waking up in a room of calming colors.

I'm finding that beauty abounds in the most unexpected of places and it brings joy to my heart! Typically I identify beauty as costly and shallow, but the joy in my heart is what cries out for a balance. Look at the woman who anoints Jesus with oil--she is a testimony of abundance and beauty where she pours an expensive perfume on the Savior's feet. As the disciples get tongue tied wondering why this woman should let something go to waste, Jesus reminds them that this woman will be remembered for her faith for generations.

Now I am an opponent of the health and wealth Gospel, but I cannot deny that this woman used something costly and material and used it to point to the new reality of the coming Kingdom that Jesus would inaugurate with his death and resurrection. Perhaps there is room to experience and express beauty as a reminder of the coming Kingdom and the beauty of the love and character of God.

Posts for the coming weeks: The Theology of the Body, The Creative Spirit...who knows, maybe I'm slowly becoming Catholic!

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Duke Basketball: Favorite Images from 2009-2010's

Countdown to Craziness!!

Check the highlights.
Hilarious videos: Kyle and the lemurs, and Nolan and the "Titanic" stare

Return of the Champions!!

Nolan Smith as Johnny Dawkins for his attempt at winning hte dunk competition

The bye-bye Vasquez poster! Word of advice to the Crazies for next year: use hand sanitizer before touching the blue sharpie to sign posters to avoid all-campus flu-like symptoms outbreak!

Getting my game face on before the Duke-UNC game. Thanks Dad for the paint job!!

And the Div School is back to foul shot antics. Glad to say that these folks might one day be your pastor :)

In your face!! I bet Harrison Barnes wishes he signed with Duke! Next year you can skype your one-and-done status.

Jon Scheyer--never afraid to battle for the ball. Check out Jon's mom who has a petrified look on her face. Is it scary that I did the exact same thing she did?! Mr. Scheyer seems to think his tough son will be alright.

Only regular season shot that I can't find is Miles Plumlee getting stiches in his head and coming back for a dunk!

Zoubs picking up Wojo after the National Championship game!

Nolan in front of the 1980 Championship logo after winning his own championship in 2010. His late father won in the same city in 1980!

And of course, who can live without my view of Duke winning the 'Ship from inside Cameron! With Zoubek "Z" in view. Rushing the court. Screen view.

Jen's Trend Alert!!

Here it is, a few of my favorite things!

1. Nail Polish

Check out O.P.I.'s You Don't Know Jacques--Matte or Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Commander in Chic. I never thought that I would be a nail polish fan.

2. Chambray

photo: Gap tote, $34.50

3. Bags from saribari.com

Inexpensive bags made from discarded sari's and stitched together by women in Calcutta's red light district. FAIR TRADE!!

photos: saribari.com, approx $20

4. Earrings from Ten Thousand Villages

photos, tenthousandvillages.com, double hoop brass earrings made in Kenya $18, scrollwork hoop earrings made in India $16, layered spirals earrings made in Kenya $10.50

5. Leather Flip Flops

photos: abercrombie.com, leather flip flops $46 also available in kids