In the cold, drizzly weather of an Oregon November, the majority of
leaves on the ground have been reduced to brownish yellow mush. So this one blazed out
to me like a torch.
Why does a simple leaf, the merest speck in the massive cycle of
season change, attract my attention? Is it the brilliant color? The contrast of
red and green is somewhat unusual and striking, like a fantastic kind of fire.
Perhaps it’s the symbolism: the leaf is the most beautiful as it dies.
I don’t believe it’s
a coincidence of brain chemistry that draws humans to beautiful “useless” things.
Paintings, songs, stories…and pretty dying leaves. They seem to serve no
purpose in day to day survival, yet we would dread life without them. I believe
it’s the image of our Creator in us. We love beautiful things because He does.
I think part of what
it means to be an artist is to always be on the lookout for these moments of
beauty. Sometimes when I’m in the midst of creating a story or picture, what
brings me the most delight is a simple thing: an image, a word, or a smudge of
color…something that stands out against the dull background as bright and fiery
and true. Those are the things I am most eager to share, and I wonder if anyone
else will feel what I do: that these moments of beauty are glimpses of God’s
glory.
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