In the Philosophy of New Thought, we know that God is not a being, but a Presence that resides within all of creation. We each express God, as does each plant, animal, star and galaxy. God is in a constant ever-expanding state of expression. God contemplates upon itself and creation occurs. We do the same thing. Our lives are expressing from that which we contemplate most consistently and with the most feeling.

We’ve been taught that God expresses in a multitude of ways and Its attributes are Beauty, Joy, Power, Peace, Light, Love, Life and Wisdom. We all have the capability to express these attributes also. In fact, we are all expressing these attributes in different degrees. There is no such thing as the lack of one of these attributes; but, there can be a lack of recognition within us.

I am inviting you to join me in exploring these attributes and in bringing them into our lives in our own unique way. I am going to begin with the attribute of Beauty. It can seem a bit esoteric to think of Beauty because we can’t really see it. We only see what it does, for example, through a flower or through a piece of music we consider beautiful. This is like it is with all of the attributes of God. We can only see what they do. We do not see the Power itself. This is because there must be an expression in order for creation to be fulfilled.

Beauty can reveal itself in a multitude of ways. Does it have to be what we consider the standard reflection of Beauty? What of those experiences and things that we might not typically call beautiful? What of suffering? What of something we consider a freak of nature? Is there such a thing? I believe Beauty always has to be present because God is always present.

Today, as I look at everything in my life and all the encounters that I experience, no matter what they are, I’m going to look for Beauty. I am going to look for that which makes me feel awe and wonder. If it be an accident on the road that I pass or a beautiful sunset, I am going to look for Beauty to reveal itself.

This past month, I experienced the death of one of my dear friends. If I look at his death only from the standpoint of loss, I might not find Beauty. However, as I think back of my last moments with him, I can feel the Beauty in the experience through my sorrow for the loss of his physical presence and transmute the experience to wonder and awe in the mystery of death and what it holds for all of us. I can remember his death as a release from suffering and an unfolding experience of peace. His death means something. It is not an ending, but a beginning of something new. That makes me feel awe and wonder. Even as I mourn him, I can feel the Beauty of the mystery of life.

I invite you to join me and to post what you find here on this blog? Let’s open the conversation to these Divine attributes, beginning with Beauty, and perhaps find a new way of looking through our world with eyes that search for Beauty in everything. When do we feel awe? What experiences take our breath away in wonder?

I look forward to hearing from you.

In Love and Beauty,

Rev. Rita Andreillo-Feren, Author, Teacher, Artist and Co-Spiritual Director of CSL Kaua`i and the Institute of Magnificence. Find my books on Amazon