“If you attempt to manufacture beauty, you are standing in the boat, blowing at the sails, what are you feeling?” I think of the verse that says, ‘out of the overflow of the heart, speaketh the mouth’ because most mature people say and claim beauty comes from within! So you ask: what are you feeling? and the answers create beauty, any natural sincere respond of the heart, emotions is somehow attractive, because there’s a sense of purity ‘it is what it is’ even if it’s not a pretty or calm response, as in a Child crying, or tears rolling down the face of an older lady, it is still pure and sincere, thus beautiful! Don, did I get what you’re trying to communicate right? In reciting the story of Esther, in His book “Esther”, Charles Swindoll says that there’s nothing like the sincere tears of a woman, as he describes how Esther finally breaks down and tells the kind, she’s Jewish and that he ordained all her people to be killed, and that would be her family, her people and Her too….I am sure there’s true beauty on those tears, aside from the Biblical description of what a beautiful woman Esther is, the outside is ‘faded glory’ you get so used to it, but the inside of a heart, and what overflows:The “what are you feeling” question…that is where beauty is found! I experience such beauty watching kids, or older people tell stories, teenagers being excited about something, or sincere men sold on great causes, women doing so much for their family and children because they love them; it’s beautiful to watch!
I had to reread this several times to try to understand the point, but I think I get it.
I agree that when I try to manufacture creativity (writing in my case), I just sit in front of the white computer screen and feel like I am the “special-education” child everyone thought I was when I was in school. On the other hand, there are times when something outside of myself lights a spark within me and my fingers flow across the keys like a Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines scene from, “White Nights,” and in that moment I know that I am not stupid, that in fact, I may have touches of brilliance hidden deep down within me.
When we stand by ourselves, we feel fear and insecurities.
When we live and communicate with God, we feel love and inspiration. It is in those moments when we realize that anything is possible.
This is brilliant… That line, about manufacturing beauty and blowing at the sails, is so powerful–it’s going to stay with me for a long, long time. Thank you for this!
“Our eyes are just our eyes and not all we have for seeing, maybe not even the best we have for seeing. Facts are all the eye can see, eyes cannot see truth. It’s not with the eyes of the head that we see truths like that, but with the eyes of the heart.” Frederick Buechner
Truth takes more than our eyes to see, and great courage to be vulnerable enough to write. Thank you – for your courage and your vulnerability.
Creative work often springs from emotions….a gift given to us by God. Joyful emotions and paintful emotions………as the winds of life and time blow into our face.
I’ll share a poem written years ago about sailing….not into the wind…but sailing into the storm of time….of powerful love.
SAILING INTO THE STORM OF TIME
You were on my mind,
as I sailed into the storm of time
It was the echo of your voice that kept me going,
as the waves and winds were blowing
The clouds were black and fiercely foreboding,
as my hand resolutely grasped the rudder going
Forward into the storm of time,
the memory of your voice made me almost lose my mind
But in the middle of the storm tossed time,
the love I had for you kept coming to my mind
Tossed while sleepin’ my heart was seared and beatin’,
through wet blackness and disheartening madness
Only your love did I desire
as I sailed into the storm of time
I’m definitely finding this to be true! I have a list of things I want to write about, but more often than not, what comes out of me has nothing to do with what I’ve planned.
[...] tell you how true I’m finding this to be, and how much I appreciate how he put it. Thank you Donald Miller. Like this:LikeBe the first to like this [...]
Absolutely love the imagery… thanks for your willingness to share with others what happens on your journey. Blessings.
i love these hand written posts! It’s like we’re getting to see your journal. Thanks for the great thoughts and teaching,as usual…
“If you attempt to manufacture beauty, you are standing in the boat, blowing at the sails, what are you feeling?” I think of the verse that says, ‘out of the overflow of the heart, speaketh the mouth’ because most mature people say and claim beauty comes from within! So you ask: what are you feeling? and the answers create beauty, any natural sincere respond of the heart, emotions is somehow attractive, because there’s a sense of purity ‘it is what it is’ even if it’s not a pretty or calm response, as in a Child crying, or tears rolling down the face of an older lady, it is still pure and sincere, thus beautiful! Don, did I get what you’re trying to communicate right? In reciting the story of Esther, in His book “Esther”, Charles Swindoll says that there’s nothing like the sincere tears of a woman, as he describes how Esther finally breaks down and tells the kind, she’s Jewish and that he ordained all her people to be killed, and that would be her family, her people and Her too….I am sure there’s true beauty on those tears, aside from the Biblical description of what a beautiful woman Esther is, the outside is ‘faded glory’ you get so used to it, but the inside of a heart, and what overflows:The “what are you feeling” question…that is where beauty is found! I experience such beauty watching kids, or older people tell stories, teenagers being excited about something, or sincere men sold on great causes, women doing so much for their family and children because they love them; it’s beautiful to watch!
Thank you for the words of wisdom and encouragement!
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Creativity is bigger than us.
I had to reread this several times to try to understand the point, but I think I get it.
I agree that when I try to manufacture creativity (writing in my case), I just sit in front of the white computer screen and feel like I am the “special-education” child everyone thought I was when I was in school. On the other hand, there are times when something outside of myself lights a spark within me and my fingers flow across the keys like a Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines scene from, “White Nights,” and in that moment I know that I am not stupid, that in fact, I may have touches of brilliance hidden deep down within me.
When we stand by ourselves, we feel fear and insecurities.
When we live and communicate with God, we feel love and inspiration. It is in those moments when we realize that anything is possible.
This is brilliant… That line, about manufacturing beauty and blowing at the sails, is so powerful–it’s going to stay with me for a long, long time. Thank you for this!
“Our eyes are just our eyes and not all we have for seeing, maybe not even the best we have for seeing. Facts are all the eye can see, eyes cannot see truth. It’s not with the eyes of the head that we see truths like that, but with the eyes of the heart.” Frederick Buechner
Truth takes more than our eyes to see, and great courage to be vulnerable enough to write. Thank you – for your courage and your vulnerability.
[...] – I love Jen Lula’s Year in Review infographic Christmas newsletter. – A few fun fonts. – And one to think on. [...]
This may be my favorite thing you’ve ever posted. Such a wonderful way to sum it up.
Creative work often springs from emotions….a gift given to us by God. Joyful emotions and paintful emotions………as the winds of life and time blow into our face.
I’ll share a poem written years ago about sailing….not into the wind…but sailing into the storm of time….of powerful love.
SAILING INTO THE STORM OF TIME
You were on my mind,
as I sailed into the storm of time
It was the echo of your voice that kept me going,
as the waves and winds were blowing
The clouds were black and fiercely foreboding,
as my hand resolutely grasped the rudder going
Forward into the storm of time,
the memory of your voice made me almost lose my mind
But in the middle of the storm tossed time,
the love I had for you kept coming to my mind
Tossed while sleepin’ my heart was seared and beatin’,
through wet blackness and disheartening madness
Only your love did I desire
as I sailed into the storm of time
I’m definitely finding this to be true! I have a list of things I want to write about, but more often than not, what comes out of me has nothing to do with what I’ve planned.
[...] tell you how true I’m finding this to be, and how much I appreciate how he put it. Thank you Donald Miller. Like this:LikeBe the first to like this [...]