Arrested by Beauty
Waiting for the Storm
I almost missed an exhibition of sublime beauty last night.
Prone to harping on deadlines and the desire for all or nothing, I considered cancelling my plans or postponing them to a different evening. I’d planned to go to Skyline Drive for the evening with my sister, but as sunset rapidly approached and I juggled tasks at home, I found myself thinking that if I couldn’t make it for the whole sunset, then why go at all?
But at the crucial moment, I decided to stick to my plans, remembering that the precious moments after the sun sets are some of my favorite times in this valley.
Though the sunset was minutes away, I hopped in my car, blared some country music, rolled down the windows, and proceeded to reflect on the importance of committing to beauty.
When we go to a symphony, we buy tickets long in advance, we dress in our finest, we prioritize the beauty and give it our full attention, preparing to be captivated by the talent and splendor of beauty found in music. If we hear of a local concert, art show, or new restaurant, we also are willing to rearrange our schedule if possible and partake in the finer things.
But when the Lord graces us with a particularly lovely display of His glory in nature, do we allow ourselves to be moved by its radiance? Are we arrested by beauty? Does it stop us in our tracks, make us pull over while we are driving, cause us to run outside, convince us to keep going further on our walk, and persuade us to linger in the moonlight long past our bedtime?
We might block off an evening for a particularly eye-catching movie, but do we block off an evening to simply bask in the supreme artistry of the Divine?
It felt almost silly of me to be rushing to the sunset, disregarding my evening tasks, and eagerly awaiting my destination. My enthusiasm was akin to that anticipation we feel as we prepare for a long-expected party, one promising countless entertainment. I felt ridiculous, and yet at the same time it was the sanest decision I could make. If other manmade art forms can cause me to block off an evening for the sake of beauty, how much more sensible it is to do the same thing for our Creator’s masterpiece.
As I drove, every inch of the sky radiated beauty and variety. Clouds rolled in, promising rain, the sun set amidst a backdrop of vibrant orange, blue sky and light clouds lingered in the east, and everywhere golden light shone.
Hand out the window, I felt free, seen, and loved by God as He blessed me with this moment. Though the invention of the car has done countless damage to small town communities, exercise, our sense of rootedness, and urban development, I am infinitely grateful for the simple experience of driving through this beautiful valley, singing at the top of my lungs to a song, feeling the wind wash over me, and experiencing a moment of freedom and beauty. God certainly can bring good out of our folly.
When I got to Skyline, the sun was just slipping behind the clouds and the temperatures were dropping as the storm clouds approached from beyond the mountains in the west. Already in the distance I could see rain pouring down, miles away. The horizon was colored in pinkish red, leftover from the orange sunset only moments before. The mountains were draped with a hazy blue, leaving no question as to why they are called the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The evening was perfect. After a long hot day, the cool air at dusk was a gentle balm, soothing my soul and restoring my peace. Everything becomes manageable and simple when you are in nature. There are two places where the worries of this world become nothing: the chapel and in nature. God speaks to us in these places and reminds us that all that truly matters is that we know Him, love Him, and serve Him.
As we sat and ate a light meal, lightning began to fill the air, increasing in magnitude and frequency as the minutes passed. Now approaching closer to us, we could see rain begin to fall in various places. From our vantage point, it seemed small and contained, appearing gentle, wispy, and mist-like.
But after about an hour, the wind changed. The trees behind us began rustling as only happens before the clouds burst. The lightning, which had first been contained to electrifying bolts across the horizon, now filled the entire sky, silhouetting the clouds that loomed above us. Any minute now the clouds would burst.
We quickly packed up our things and made our way down the mountain. The wind blew leaves about the road as we descended, twisting and turning down the road, mirroring the waving branches of the trees above us. The giant, heavy drops of rain hit my windshield as I reached the bottom of the mountain – our timing had been perfect.
Could I have named a better way to soak up beauty?
Catch up those around you in the drama of creation and invite them to enter into it with you. Open your heart and listen to the piercing notes of beauty in nature. Let the stanzas of the sky echo within your soul.
Let beauty arrest you.
Be arrested by beauty - I like that a lot Rachel, something I need to remind myself to do much more.
And thank you so much for your very kind words on the paid subscriber note!