It Matters {why write?}

Every now and then I meet a friend and although I barely know her, I feel like I know her soul.  Ellen Parker is one of those friends.  On her blog a while back, she posted this video and it rocked me like little else I had heard before.  This post from the archives of my writing is dedicated to you, Ellen, as you have shown me that “it matters”.    (Cancer update at the bottom of post)

If video does not appear click this link to see “Why it Matters” by Sara Groves

(written January, 2014)

“Like the statue in the park

Of this war torn town

And it’s protest of the darkness

And the chaos all around

With its beauty, how it matters

How it matters”

-Sara Groves

Why write? Why express? What’s the point in taking these jumbled prayers and thoughts and dreams and hopes, and sitting down, and actually putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard until they make sense?

It happens like this: I see a thing of beauty, and it conjures up a thought; an idea…and a connection is made.  A spark of great beauty in the midst of a regular day… even if just for a moment.

A sunrise.  A sunset.  The twinkle in a child’s eye.  An old hymn.  A kindred spirit friend.  The way the sunlight comes through my window and stretches across the hardwood.

A reality is the spark can be snuffed out as quickly as it comes.  All it takes for it to dim is a back- seat argument, a terse word, a weight of fear.  BUT…what if…what if these tiny little sparks could keep flickering?  They would illuminate my world.

The beauty is there, we just must search for it, and seek it, as if for a lost treasure.  And then, once we find it, we need to express it.  And encourage others to see their little sparks.

It means connecting on a deeper level and not just living in the day to day flesh story, but seeing the deeper meaning and the deeper story that lies just beneath the surface.  It’s God’s story..the story of faith He’s writing in all things.  If we look hard enough we can see sprouts of it in this world.

As Sara Groves puts it – we are living in a war-torn town. No doubt this life is full of pain and hurt and tears, broken relationships, abuse, hate, sadness.  This world has been ravaged by an enemy leaving trails of brokenness behind him.  But there IS beauty, even in wartime. 

This is why it matters.  There is purpose in creating beauty in these savaged streets, because the beauty reminds our soul that THIS war time?  IT’s TEMPORARY.

As we see beauty sprouting through the rubble, hope springs in our hearts. We are reminded of the One who created beauty, and is an expressive God.  In an amazing act of love, God sent His ultimate expression of beauty–Jesus Christ, who came to dwell with us.

Let’s look for the Beauty which continues to dwell with us. On the darkest of days, the beauty is a beacon reminding us of the bigger story.

This is why I write.  This is why I create. To make sense of these days which turn into years, which ultimately make up my lifetime.

This war- torn town….THIS IS NOT ALL THAT THERE IS.   Seek the beauty and then express it in whatever medium: words, photographs, music, art.  We all need the reminder that this isn’t it.

We need more statues in this war torn town.   It matters.

“…Friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. … Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”

Philipians 4:8-9 (The Message)

Cancer Update (5/22/15):

I have felt the best today that I’ve felt in over a week.  HALLELUJAH!  I have been eating and, although still fatigued, at least I’ve been able to eat. I’m regaining my strength day by day!  So many glimmers of grace, including my friend Amanda coming over today to give me a pedicure, and take me to Target to pick up some medicine. I stayed in the car while she went to get the meds, and my friend Laurie was in the parking lot walking back to her car with her daughter Caroline (sweet high schooler in my discipleship group) and they came over to speak and hug.  SO great to see them.  It was a great day 🙂  God is good.  Thank you for your prayers!!!

His grace abounds,

Brooke