Make it Beautiful

This is an incredible time to be alive. We have instant access to information, art, music, literature, philosophy, and history. We can learn and share virtually anything the human mind can conceive. The biggest question we face is not “how much we can know” or “what should we know” but “what will we do with what we know?” Information is power and power is often abused and misused for selfish gain. What if instead of abusing power, we used power to make this world even more beautiful?

“Make it beautiful” is a personal mission that has far reaching implications. Beauty is contagious. When people hear beautiful words, they are more likely to speak beautifully. When people recognize their beautiful world, they are more likely to share beauty with their world. When people transcend the ugliness of sin, they are more likely to live beautiful lives…lives full of beauty…lives full of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Every life is full of something. We fill our lives with busyness, selfishness, brokenness, loneliness, happiness, sadness, and all the other “nesses” of life. Even when we feel empty, we are full of emptiness. All our “nesses” can wind up feeling like messes, but what if it could become a beautiful mess? Instead of trying to avoid the messiness of life, we can embrace the beauty in the mess.

There is always beauty to be found…beauty to be cherished…beauty to be shared. “Make it beautiful” is not always about creating beauty but is often about simply enjoying the beauty that already exists. Do you want to make each day beautiful? Enjoy a sunrise or sunset. Do you want to make your relationships beautiful? Enjoy the majesty of God’s creation as expressed in the uniqueness of another human being. Do you want to make your work beautiful? Enjoy the blessing of using your work to bless others. Beauty can be found everywhere, because God can be found in everywhere. Wherever you find God, you will also find beauty.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1 NIV)

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

“Make it beautiful” is a phrase that I use to remind myself to make the most of each day and each opportunity. There is enough ugliness in the world, and I have no desire to add to it. There is power in beauty. Beauty inspires. Beauty encourages. Beauty connects. There is beauty in you and your world is waiting for your beauty to be revealed. Make it beautiful by being beautiful. Make it beautiful by being you. Make it beautiful by celebrating beauty in others.

I’m not sure God’s creation needs any more critics, but I think it could use some fans. Be the beauty in the mess and embrace the fullness of who you are in relation to your God. He is beautiful. You are created in His image. You are beautiful. Make it beautiful.