Grace Makes More Beauty?
Lindsay has a theory that when we come to know Jesus, he takes our preexisting avenues of aesthetic grace and expands them. For example: Before conversion, indie music and theater dramas were the things that made your soul jump up and wave its arms around, but you thought that the Grand Canyon was a yawn-inducing hole in the ground.
Then, after Jesus resuscitated the walking corpse that was your soul, you walk by the Grand Canyon again and are so inspired that you nearly fall off the edge in a paroxysm of John Piper-like worship. You still love music and drama, but now the Grand Canyon is GQ too–all because Jesus has enlivened your heart with his grace so now you see created beauty in more places.
You think the theory stacks up?
April 11th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
“You think the theory stacks up?”
I’ll answer by way of reporting on an interview with a writer that I heard on NPR a few days ago. The book’s title is “Pretty Is What Changes”–it’s a memoir by a woman who, in her late 20s, learned that she had in her a gene that indicated she was 98% likely to develop breast cancer and decided to have two radical mastectomies. I can’t remember just now her name or the source of her title, but she said that it’s from a poem that goes on to say that what is beautiful (as opposed to “pretty”) is that which isn’t transient, that which is constant.
The above obviously isn’t a direct confirmation of Lindsay’s theory, but it seems to me, after reading your post, that each is affirming an aspect of the beautiful that is easy to overlook and that a relationship with God reveals: true beauty’s enduring nature. The sunrises and sunsets are different every day, but hey: the sky’s constant, everyday blueness is even more marvelous. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the earth.”
April 11th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I would agree, too. Paul constantly reminded the churches to continually give thanks to God. This heart of gratitude and praise shifts our perspective. One thing about Christians is the fruits promised to us: Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Gentleness…all these make for a revolution in perspective, because we discover the Other, everything God created. And, because we appreciate these little treasures, we become more aware of the beauty, seen or unseen, God made.
Sounds like Lindsay’s on to something to me.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
It’s a cool theory, and just the fact that I am so thankful now means a lot to me…
April 13th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Is it a function of finally getting the eyes and ears of which Jesus speaks? Or, stated differently, does our appreciation change? Our tastes mature?
Good question.
Cheers.
April 13th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
John B., I almost stole your comment and used it as my next post. I like what you say here:
true beauty’s enduring nature. The sunrises and sunsets are different every day, but hey: the sky’s constant, everyday blueness is even more marvelous. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the earth.”
That probably comes pretty close to the heart of the matter. When we are introduced to Jesus, he begins to show us progressively more reality. Specifically, the way in which all created things point back to him.
As Ben says:
This heart of gratitude and praise shifts our perspective…make for a revolution in perspective, because we discover the Other, everything God created. And, because we appreciate these little treasures, we become more aware of the beauty, seen or unseen, God made.
Makes me value gratitude more (nod to Bernard) as well. Increasing gratefulness = increasing grip on reality.
Sherman, it would seem like “seeing” and “hearing” in Jesus’ lexicon would extend to encountering Creation and thereby encountering the Creator. Am I right? No doubt more of the Creation becomes palatable to us as we get more mature. E.g., maybe someday I’ll be able to see God’s beauty in opera.