Thoughts come and occasionally turn into words or phrases that we share out loud with others. (For me, sharing words frequently takes the form of social media posts.) And as we share out loud, we hope our heart behind the words is understood. That others gather the full intent of what we are trying to say.
Unfortunately, experience has taught me that others do not always know us well enough to know our hearts or read our messages as intended. And this experience led me to consider something I had perhaps ignored.
Do people understand what I mean when I write using phrases and hashtags such as treasure hunter or beauty seeker?
Do you, the reader of my words, realize that when I write of searching for beauty, it does not mean ignoring the reality of what is right before us? What is often not so beautiful?
How easy in our effort to experience good and beautiful things to ignore that which is the opposite? It can be instinctual to look the other way when we walk by the homeless on the streets of our own hometown. It feels safer to wipe the tears away rather than face the truth of their cause.
Yet, friends, may I take a moment of your time to clarify?
When I speak of being a treasure hunter and beauty seeker, I do so not in denial of the truth. Rather, suggesting that as seekers of beauty, we are beholders who bravely look the less-than-beautiful situations straight in the eyes in an attempt to seek that which is still good.
Search the meaning of beauty seeker or treasure hunter, and there will be a variety of definitions. Some might say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Or that treasures must have some market value.
Knowing how variable a definition can be, might we define beauty seekers and treasure hunters to be those who:
- look beyond the ordinary and mundane to find the gifts of beauty, often hidden at first glance.
- see a field of weeds, acknowledge the weeds, yet gather the wildflowers.
- walk by the homeless person, making eye contact, seeing them as the person created by God. Even helping where able.
- find beauty in the rhythms of ordinary days rather than seeing only tasks to be checked off a list.
- sit with the tears, our own and others, letting them tell the story needing to be told while learning to hold them mingled with gratitude and hope.
- observes the world using all five senses, engaging life with body, mind, and soul.
It is so easy to make assumptions based on our experiences and define meaning to words based on our understanding. Occasionally, it might benefit us to pause and ask ourselves if we have clarity of understanding and provide clarity for others in our use of words.
On that note, friends, I pray there is clarity of words and understanding of hearts.
May we be #treasurehunters and #beautyseekers, not as defined by a dictionary but rather as beholders who bravely look the ordinary, the mundane, the less-than-beautiful situations straight in the eyes in an attempt to seek that which is still good.
