The Art of Unseen Beauty

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” ~ Confucius

There are a lot of sticks that litter the ground in the woods where I live. They’re dry, dead branches that have broken from the trees and dropped to the ground to slowly decay or be trampled underfoot. Most of them have been there for years and have faded to a dull gray shade that’s so drab it’s barely a color at all. When admiringly wandering among the pines and the aspens, these sticks largely remain unnoticed except for the sound of snapping as they break with each foot step.

Upon closer inspection, however, there’s an abundance of beauty to be seen if you take the time time to look for it and uncover it. With a little sandpaper and a lot of patience, the dull gray surface of the wood gives way to the natural grain underneath. Often times, there are intricate designs carved into them by wood boring insects.

So much beauty just under the surface!  What a delight to uncover and reveal the unseen beauty and put it on display.

LIFE APPLICATION:

• What’s the unseen beauty in the washed out, dull gray areas of your life?
• Who or what are you passing by without noticing? What are you missing?
• What’s beautiful about the scars that life’s left behind?

Personal Note: This project was inspired by The Circle Maker, which discusses the concept of drawing prayer circles around your biggest dreams.  The reclaimed wood in this artwork reminds me that disappointed dreams can be restored and renewed. The center opening of the circle frame is where I’ll hang more wood circles with symbols or words on them that represent the bold prayers I hold before God. There’s an unseen beauty in a heart of Faith that makes life itself a work of art.