Simplicity is Beauty

I've always liked to write.. There's something about just getting everything inside, out and just forgetting everything around you while you get lost in the words. One of my goals this year is to write more, as it's something that helps me reflect on life and relax, so I figured why not start a blog? The thoughts may be random, they may be insignificant or they may mean something and help you in one way or another. I pray that whatever my words stir in you, that they might help you see the world through a different lens.

Last week I traveled to Colorado for a ski trip/Bible retreat and got lost in the beauty around me. It opened my eyes to a multitude of things, as I realized for the first time in many years that there's a really big world out there and that I've been in the same area for way too long.

We boarded our flight at 5:20 am, onto a little plane that made me feel too claustrophobic. I'm not good with small spaces, I get anxiety quicker than you can bat an eye, and to add to that, I hadn't flown in 15 years. It made for an interesting morning as I got on another connecting flight to Denver. This flight though, was much smoother as we boarded a much bigger and newer plane. There were TV's and a spot in the armrest where I could plug in my head phones.  I finally drifted off as I relaxed a little bit, and as I awoke, I could finally see the mountains in the distance.

We drove two hours to Copper Mountain, where we unloaded our van at a beautiful house whose backyard consisted of the ski hill which led us right to the ski lift. There were mountains right outside, not to mention a hot tub where I utterly enjoyed relaxing after a long day of skiing.

I'm a morning person, and with the time change, I was up well before the sun every morning. The first morning there, I ventured up the stairs because I figured I might as well watch the sun come up. Sunrises and sunsets are two of my favorite things, so I was too excited. I looked outside to see a dark sky, the stars still shining brightly. I sat out the window and marveled at the beauty. The stillness, serenity, how fresh everything feels in the morning before people begin the hustle and bustle of the day.

The sun started to peak over the mountain and I was nothing short of amazed at the colors the sky changed. There were pinks, oranges, yellows, and the still dimming light of a third-quarter moon. If I could have frozen that moment, I would have. As I sat there, I realized it's moments like those that make you realize just how amazing the world is. Being in the city for school, I can see the stars at night and the sun come up in the morning, but it's nothing like being out in the open where you can see the bright stars gradually turn into a new day.

From that morning on I couldn't resist taking in every inch of beauty around me. As I skied down the slopes, I couldn't look around enough at the mountains in front of me as I went down the hill. It was my first time skiing in four years, but I knew God was watching over me, and the adrenaline I felt from gliding over that snow was something incredible that I couldn't let fear slow down. We went to a new ski ramp that I hadn't been up on the second day. Boy, that was a trip. It took us quite a while to get down, but from the mountain way up high, the view was something I wouldn't have missed for the world. It was worth the risk, and taking my time to get down the hill didn't even bother me because at least that way, I could see the mountains all around me and truly soak it all in.

On Thursday night, I heard a sermon based off of Mark 10:13. The disciples had rebuked the little children that were being brought to see Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." So what do children have that we should also have? My friend elaborated and broke it down into a few main qualities, one of which is a child's ability to be amazed. This stuck with me and made me think back to that weekend.

Every time I turned my head, I was amazed all over again. Sure, I saw the same mountain four days in a row, saw the sun come up and set over and over, yet every time I couldn't get enough of it. I felt like a child again, being simply amazed at the littlest things.

Shouldn't we live every day like this? Shouldn't we look around and see the leaves changing and falling and growing again, the snow falling, the sun coming up, people passing by, and be simply amazed? Every little thing is so intricate and wonderfully made that we should be.

I try to take it all in, day after day. I want to be amazed, I want to regain that wonder and amazement we felt during our childhood. When did we lose that feeling? Maybe our culture overly exaggerates everything. Pictures can be edited, videos can taken, and society overlooks the realness of it all and covers up every flaw imaginable to make everything seem "perfect." I don't want to get bogged down into that. I want to go out and see the world for the true beauty that it has, unedited, uncaptured, unmoved. I want to see the people who smile and flaunt the wrinkles in their faces, who have imperfect skin yet still naturally glow because they are human. God's given us all the most beautiful gift of his grace and this life, full of happiness and imperfections. It might not always seem perfect, it feels the complete opposite at times, but yet it's all of the perfect and not-so-perfect moments that lead us to the path that God has created us for. If that isn't amazing, then I don't know what is.

I walk to class, I look up and down, I see the snow, and I think of how blessed I am to see even these little things. When you go outside today, just pause for a moment. Take a deep breath, and see the beauty around you. Even if it's raining, even if it's dreary. There's something beautiful in every moment. The rain brings life, and there's always sunshine after the rain. Times get hard, but the nights can't last forever. Though sometimes it feels as if it'll never end, those are times when God is preparing and shaping you for something wonderful.