Noticing: White dogwood blossoms overhung the pond’s bank. Small ripples topped the pond’s surface and lapped the banks. Soft light grayed the surface of the water. Cars with drivers pulled up to the gate; the drivers mashed remote controls to open the arm of the gate or otherwise scanned badges and waited upon the arm of the gate to lift. Meanwhile the yellow canoe behind the white dogwood lay upon leaves unnoticed and a white blossom from the dogwood pinwheeled onto the pond’s surface and at least one heart leapt for this swatch of spring. Passersby surfed phones while the white dogwood by the yellow canoe launched pinwheel blossoms onto the water beneath the gray sky. 

Encouragement: One of the evidences of the Christian worldview is beauty. We are drawn to it. We seek it. Think of the cosmetics industry, e.g. Think of plastic surgery. Think of hair dyes and tanning booths and liposuction. There’s no end to which some people will not go to pursue what they desire as beautiful.

I, too, pursue beauty. Usually it’s my favorite regions to hike, or the sound of a good cast as it hits its target when I fish, or when I just notice what has been provided for us to steward. Sometimes it’s just the pinwheeling white dogwood blossom gliding upon perfect pedalled wings upon the surface of the water for a soft landing. One would be shallow to claim it’s all random and/or undesigned, would he not?