In Sickness

My friend Eileen is lying in the hospital this morning, very very sick. Two years ago, another friend named Julie--a regular reader of this blog-- was also very sick and spent part of the holidays in the hospital, too. Today I'm filled with thanks that Eileen is still with us, at least for now, and that Julie has recovered fully and is now the mother of a beautiful little boy.

Julie sent me an email several months ago about the beauty she found even in her hospital room. I'm going to share it below. Hug your family and friends close this Thanksgiving, and let the beauty around you remind you of all there is to thank God for.

"The first time I had an extended stay in a hospital bed was at the end
of October 2006. The hospital was brand new and I had a large private
room with a large window. The view inside was clean and nice. The
hospital sits in the middle of a business and shopping district but from
my 4th story window the only thing I could see was a patch of trees
wearing the most vibrant Autumn colors. I remember staring out the
window for hours taking in the extraordinary colors of God's creation.
I don't think a trip to the Mountains would have given me a more
beautiful display of the season.

"A few weeks later I again was in the
hospital this time for a much longer stay, in a more serious condition,
and in the middle of the Christmas Holiday. This time my room was small
and the view was that of a parking lot and a highway. The weather
seemed to be overcast and dark everyday. I missed the view of the
beautiful trees but I found plenty of beauty inside those 4 walls. The
love of God expressed in the form of family and friends who brought such
comfort and joy both in the hospital and during my long recovery at
home. I found beauty in the medical staff who so carefully cleaned and wrapped
wounds that were so ugly I was unable to look upon them myself. I found
beauty in the feel of the breeze on my face after being inside in a bed
for more than 2 weeks. I now try to remember how many things there are
in everyday life that are beautiful and I try to stop and appreciate
them, and thank God for them."

Four-Legged Beauty

One type of beauty in my life has four legs and fur. My dog is a black Lab/shepherd mix, which means her ears stand at attention and her gorgeous face is a Lab's. Dark brown eyes, a little patch of white on her chest, and a heart that desperately wants to please. When she's running, she's a streak of black grace. She jumps the five deck stairs with ease and can pull to a stop in front of the door in two seconds flat. She bounces from side to side in the air when she's playing or contemplating a treat. She makes us laugh.

Dogs have been on my mind the last few weeks for a number of reasons: I'm working on an article about them; we lost our oldest Lab a year ago this month; we're thinking of getting a new buddy for our current one. We've been working with a local and very good Lab rescue to find the perfect new addition to our home. Each dog they're adopting has his or her picture on the website. Talk about beauty--face after gorgeous face in assorted colors. They look similar, of course, at first glance, but they are all different. One little guy has the head of a Lab on the body of a basset hound. Another one has a blue eye and a brown eye. A third has two pale blue eyes set in almost white fur. Arresting.

I'm a Lab lover from way back. I love their big hearts, outgoing personalities, and friendly faces. When I look at my dog, I think, Wow, God, look at her! Look at what you made. It's very good. Thank you.

And Now A Word from You...

My daughter is home sick from school today and I don't feel that good myself so I'd like to hear from you. Please leave me a comment or email me about any of these topics:

--a special experience you had with beauty

--your favorite type of beauty (visual arts, music, literature, creation, etc.) and why

--a quotation about beauty

I would love to hear from you.

Sculpture in Motion at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Last week on a crisp, sunny day, I went to see a unique art exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The gardens are always a delight and the visiting exhibition added an extra level of form and beauty. I wrote about it on my arts blog if you'd like to know more.

Wherever you are today, look for and enjoy the beauty around you.