This is the time of year that I used to dread. Most of the Christmas decorations have disappeared from our neighborhood’s homes, the warmth of holiday music has dissipated, the air is bitter cold, and the trees are dark and seemingly devoid of life.
My husband and I commute to work together, and lately I have been struck with beauty that I haven’t noticed before. One thought has been swirling in my mind for a few days now.
There is great beauty to be found in barrenness.
This thought strikes me as my eyes take in the awesomeness of those trees that in the past I would describe as cold, dead and dull. What I see now is entirely different and enlightening.
As we drive home after work, the winter sunsets are almost overwhelmingly gorgeous. Last night there were deep shades of indigo, violet, magenta, pink and blue. The colors were layered beautifully, and could be viewed through the intricate patterns of lace and latticework formed by the branches of those “dead” trees.
All it took for me to notice and see the beauty of barrenness was to look past it, and focus on the beauty through it.
Our lives are like that. We tend to focus on what is lacking, and sometimes just can’t understand why a loving God would allow certain things to happen in the world. We look at our own lives, our sufferings and weaknesses, and we feel barren and sometimes even abandoned.
We are called in faith to look through the barrenness and focus on the perfect beauty and love of God.
He is the beauty that calls, amazes, humbles, and overwhelms us with love. He is The One that works all things toward good for those who love Him.
Do you love Him that loves you? Are you willing to look through your weaknesses, persecutions, and sufferings and focus your trust and whole being on the saving love and grace of Jesus? Will you open your heart to His Divine Mercy?
Only then will your eyes be opened to the intricate beauty of barrenness… for only Our Lord knows the full design of the tapestry that is being masterfully created through what we view as unacceptable.
Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
January 10, 2021 at 9:09 am
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. May God continue to bless you!
Bernadette
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January 10, 2021 at 8:48 am
Beautifully written and such beautiful truths. Thank you so much for sharing with me.
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January 12, 2015 at 8:46 pm
I’d love for you to come and visit and perhaps read one of my poem’s, “A Mother’s Heart Denied.”
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January 13, 2015 at 10:17 am
I look forward to reading more of your posts. What a journey you have traveled…may God bless you and keep you in His care:-)
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January 13, 2015 at 6:36 pm
It truly has been journey by which it was difficult to tell sometimes whether I was walking or He was carrying me!
You, too have had heartache with which I can so identitify.
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January 8, 2015 at 8:25 am
You are such an inspiration to me!! I love the way you see the world through eyes that are touched by divine love!! Thank you…I read this last night and I didn’t have the time to respond….not the way I wanted to. I can feel your beautiful energy through your words and I am so grateful to have connected with you. You make my heart feel good…Thank you!!! ❤
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January 9, 2015 at 9:24 am
Lorrie, thank you for such a lovely response! It’s funny you say “I can feel your beautiful energy through your words and I am so grateful to have connected with you. You make my heart feel good”. Sounds like you and I are a lot alike. I can feel spirits from people in person, through distance, and also through their writings. It’s like their spirit envelops me.
So happy we have connected, and hope and pray that we learn and grow through the Holy Spirit.
Thank you, and may God bless you,
Bernadette
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January 9, 2015 at 9:55 am
Thank you Bernadette! What a lovely way to describe what I have felt my whole life 🙂 I am so happy we connected ❤
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January 8, 2015 at 7:57 am
Beautifully said!
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January 8, 2015 at 8:15 am
Thank you. Have a wonderful and blessed day:-)
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January 7, 2015 at 7:22 pm
So glad you found some peace and joy during your difficult commute yesterday!!
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January 8, 2015 at 8:20 am
Veronica…I have to admit, Joe and I only saw cars (as in a virtual parking lot on the roads) during our never ending 3 hour commute to work. We definitely need to grow in patience. However, on the way home, I was able to just sit back in the passenger seat and enjoy the beauty set before us.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting:-)
Love and hugs,
Bernadette
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January 7, 2015 at 12:21 pm
You are such an amazing, positive woman! What a blessing you are to me,
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January 7, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Ellie, so happy that you were blessed. I am not sure about the “amazing and positive” part…I am a work in process:-) However, I can tell you that when I sit down to write, the Holy Spirit guides me and gives me the words to share. He fills my mind and heart with good thoughts. (as I know he works through you and many of our fellow bloggers)
You are a blessing to me and so many…I learn so much from your posts, and can feel your vitality and spirit:-) Thank you!
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January 7, 2015 at 10:30 am
Beautiful wording. I have realized lately how much i appreciate everything in life so much more with God in my life. It really is that your eyes now see
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January 7, 2015 at 1:10 pm
You are so right! Yes…we see with new eyes and there are so many ways God speaks to us.
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January 7, 2015 at 1:17 pm
I have written a couple of songs and the lyrics that respond to this keep coming back to me so I will have to work them into a song
My eyes are open now I can see
Now the bible makes sense to me
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January 7, 2015 at 9:57 am
Thank you for this beautiful perspective and for the ways you point us to the Lord.
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January 7, 2015 at 1:09 pm
It is amazing how the Lord works through all of us…we are interconnected. Thank you for being a willing vessel and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you:-)
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