French Beauty

JanetJoanouWeiner

23 hours ago

4 min read

There is much disheartening news coming out of France at the moment. Upheaval, riots, violence affecting the major cities and threatening to come to small ones soon. Yet when I look around, what is good, right, and true remains.

Theologians posit that the beauty of creation is a first sign of God's goodness. Isn't that true? Let's slow down, breathe deep, and take in the sweeping grandeur of the natural world around us. A refreshing reset.

The colors of autumn never cease to amaze me. Amber, gold, crimson, scarlet, and burnt sienna present a splendid array. While I appreciate the uniqueness of each season, fall is my favorite. Autumn's particular beauty speaks to my soul.

I lived in Hawaii for five years, the land of perpetual sunshine. Lovely for vacations, but I missed the seasonal changes. Especially autumn. Thankfully, the local stores stocked plenty of fall foliage (decent fakes) and pumpkin-scented candles. Also, I discovered a few tropical leaves that sported autumn colors and used them regularly as table centerpieces.

All this to say, I believe the seasons are a gift. Predictable, yet a delightful semi-surprise each year.

Grapevine—vigne vierge—across the back of my house. — Grapevine—*vigne vierge—*across the back of my house.

A neighbor's house. I love how they trained the vine to encircle the window and door.

The enormity of creation inspires awe. From sweeping vistas of mountain ranges to oceans that crash and roar and carry depths we cannot fathom. We're made to be amazed by things beyond our full comprehension, a reflection of eternity in our hearts.

The uncountable number of stars sparkling across a midnight sky speaks of the infinite nature of our universe. That God knows each by name is a stunning reminder of His personal care and love for creation. Including us.

It is healthy and helpful to remember that He is God, the Creator. He's got the whole world in His hands. He knows all. And how to handle it. We are secure.

When we turn our gaze down to tiny plants and organisms, there are whole other worlds to discover. Even the inanimate rocks cry out, testifying to his glory.

Here's a sample:

Isn't this jack-o'-lantern mushroom stunning? A feast for the eyes only, as it's very poisonous.

A few late raspberries... a yummy surprise

I'm not a cactus fan, but the pleasing colors on my neighbor's plant make me smile.

As fall progresses, pops of color appear. Recent rains washed the world clean, highlighting contrasting hues.

Speaking of rain, we had quite the downpour in September. Our region, the Cévennes, is prone to flood and our town especially likes to join the party. Pounding rain—four inches (100 millimetres) per hour—led to some interesting results.

Here's what happened on our property:

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/5fabfb_00b7d075b33049b8ad2778fb7074275f/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

We haven't had this type of torrential downpour since 2014. Then, the ground floors of our buildings flooded and required hours of bucketing and mopping up. After that incident, we regraded slopes and dug new water paths on the property. This time, the water flowed where we hoped it would. Down the hill, to the side of the land, and out to the street drains. Whew!

Thankfully, the water went out the garden door and not into the house!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/5fabfb_98f6169006594c0480d4c58cfa8842bf/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

"Lake Chicken Coop"... My girls were not amused.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/5fabfb_1ab0b6c4840e4a2d976be16e351c1c7f/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

The waterfall around the corner from us. The crashing roar of pounding waters, its own language to the soul.

Contrast with summer fun in the same place:

Just enough water to swim and jump from the "waterfall"

Rains bring RAINBOWS. A prism of color painted across the sky.

Isn't our Creator God AMAZING??? Beauty inspires, heals, and comforts. And Jesus said that this version of the world is groaning to be released into the fullness of glory. Wow. I can only imagine what that will be like.

We can start with daily appreciation of what is around us. Observe the panorama and the minute details. Lean in with all five senses. Look and truly see. Notice the scents, breathe them in. Listen. Birdsong? A rush of water? Gravel crunching underfoot? Feel the breeze—or the raindrops—on your face. Touch and enjoy textures. Taste, with care.

How is God communicating with you through His creation?

Scenes from the neighborhood:

While we don't see God directly, we see evidence of who He is throughout creation. Creation reflects His goodness. Birds, people, animals, sunsets, sunrises, stars, grass, trees, butterflies... the list could go on and on.

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—His eternal and divine nature.

Romans 1:20

The gingko tree across the street from our home.

The neighbor's glorious gingko appears in my books as well as many autumnal scenes. I love this season and enjoyed describing it, but the story unfolds this way mainly for historical accuracy.