Look for the Beautiful

As we think of the tragic events of this past week, our thoughts and prayers go out to the individuals and families who are suffering so much pain and sorrow. It is only natural to feel sorrow and despair for a world that seems at times to be controlled by the forces of evil. It is all around us. 

I woke up early this morning thinking about some of these things, but as these thoughts were rolling around in my mind, another thought came to me. It was a remembrance of an earlier time, and the lines of a hymn written by F. E. Belden and published in 1908. It now appears in many hymnals throughout the Western world. I remember singing it when I was a boy growing up in Marshall, Missouri. It has always lifted my spirits and made me feel better when I was sad. Let me share some of it with you now:

"Look for the beautiful, look for the true; sunshine and shadow are all around you. Looking at evil we grope in the night; looking at Jesus we walk in the light. Look for the beautiful, honor the right.

Live for the beautiful, love for the true; lifting the fallen as Christ lifted you... Live for the beautiful, keep love within."

As I thought about the words of this hymn, I realized that the world today has both good and evil. I suppose it has always been that way. But if I dwell too long on the things that are wrong in the world, I will miss all the things that are right. So I pray for those who are hurting, and at the same time I look around me at all the good things that are happening. The sun will soon come up and new life will begin. I am alive. I have a place to live, food to eat, and clean water to drink. Health, family, friends, and a future to look forward to. I see people all around me who are helping others. There is love.  Like the song that says "when I am worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep; and I fall asleep, counting my blessings." 

One of these days the Lord will come again. Then there will be no more tears and no more pain. All things will be made new again. Peace on earth will become a reality as it was in the beginning. The Bible tells us so, and in my heart of hearts I know it is true.