Issue: Godly Distinction: Christian Beauty in a World Cursed by the Ugly

Slice of Life: Yesterday at PT, I was jogging my favorite trail on post. The reason it’s my favorite is because much of it parallels a creek that runs almost all year. In the driest days of summer, it will sometimes stall; but when the next thunderstorm comes, it’s running again. To the sides of the creek are some of my favorite trees and shrubs and vines: myriad oaks, dogwoods, magnolias, and massive sycamore trees. And along the edge of the trail, currently the honeysuckle, jessamine, and blackberries are growing. The May air is thick with the scents of honeysuckle and yellow jessamine. I imbibed both each time I passed that side of the creek. And when I ran under the massive sycamores, my memory took me back to Grandma and Granddaddy’s place, where Granddaddy had a massive sycamore on the east side of his house, and it’s still there today, towering over that property, even though Grandma and Granddaddy have since passed. But I’ve many fond memories of hunting Easter eggs under that tree and around all the azaleas and monkey grass they throughout the yard. Such simple pleasures and simple memories.

Two Ways of Being: There is much beauty about still, but you must be able to see it. When I checked the news this morning online, the first headline was of two murders in our nation’s capital city. Two Jewish employees were murdered by another Islamic terrorist. This scenario gets played out so often, I suspect many have grown cold to it. The tragedy gets politicized, lots of shouting and cursing one another’s sides occurs, and the headline fades as quickly as it appeared. Meanwhile, two more young people have been murdered. The temptation is to give in to the forces of darkness, to throw up our hands and gasp, “It’ll never change. This is just our world now.” Well, it will be if good people remain silent. My prayer is that we won’t, however. You don’t conquer darkness by hiding the light. Christ teaches clearly on this theme.

Text: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, ESV).

Encouragement: We were told in that in this world we would battle trouble (John 16:33) due to the Fall. The cosmos groans under a curse; again, we were told this up front (Romans 8:22-23). Nevertheless, the Christian is called to be a light in the darkness, (Matthew 5:14-16), a fragrant aroma (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Rather than succumbing to the forces of evil, rise above them, much like those giant sycamores and majestic oaks I love so much, rise far above the floors of the forest, making the jogs that much sweeter.