Beauty

I spent last week exploring Italy with my brother and a friend from college. We saw a lot in the 8 days we were in Italy. Venice, Florence, Pisa, and the Cinque Terre- Italian riviera on the Western coast.... It was amazing. I probably use that word too much, but I can't think of a better word to describe it.

Venice is one of the most picturesque cities I've been to. There's just something enchanting about the all the canals and bridges crossing them. The tiny, winding "streets" that go through the city call out to you and make you want to see what's around the corner. Florence is filled with some of the best sculptures and paintings in the world. You stand in awe as you look upon the masterpieces and contemplate the time and energy put into every brush stroke and carving of stone. The churches in all of the cities are works of art themselves. The amount of detail put into every surface of the buildings are breathtaking. The hours and hours of work put into it is incredible. The Cinque Terre is like something out of a fairy tale. Tiny villages planted in the cliffs along the Mediterranean sea. The water is the most stunning, clear blue I've ever seen. The hills are filled herbs, flowers, and fruit trees. The air is rich with the fragrance of flowers blooming and the cool freshness of the ocean breeze. Being there brings your heart to life. 

So much beauty, it's overwhelming. But there's something more to it. There were thousands of tourists everywhere we went. Why are these places so popular? What is it that calls out to people, to make them spend hours of travel and hundreds or thousands of dollars to simply see these cities and landscapes? Beauty. God's creation, a reflection of who He is. Every masterpiece has a bit of the master in it. When we see these places of beauty we see a little bit of God's glory, His beauty. 

The Cinque Terre was probably my favorite out of all the places we visited. I can't help but feel at home and just a little closer to Jesus in places like Cinque Terre. Like I said, it's brings your heart to life. It gets me excited because I know that this is only a dimly lit preview of what's coming next, heaven! I must say that my excitement and expectancy for heaven has grown over the past few months. As I've spent more time in the presence of the King, seeking His face, I've come to to know Him better which only makes me want more. I want to experience His presence in new ways. I want to know His love like I've never known it before. I want to stand in awe of His creation and sing His praises. I long for the days when all of my time will be spent with Him and there will be NO barrier between us! Me and Jesus, His glory and beauty fully known!

Beauty calls out to us because we were made for so much more. We were made to be in the presence of Jesus, to soak up His love and beauty. I understand what the Apostle Paul was talking about in Philippians 1: 21-24 "For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live."

We all long for that something more, for God's beauty in its fullness, but let us continue in the work God has before us for this life is but a blinking of an eye in comparison to eternity. Until that day comes may we enjoy the beauty God has displayed for us!

  

 Venice

  

 Florence

Pisa

 

 Cinque Terre