Soul on Canvas
Having an eye for beauty is an art in itself. Some people are able to find beauty everywhere — others never seem to notice it anywhere. Your tastes change. It is common for people to have a major style shift about every seven years (part of the “seven year itch”). As you spiritually mature, you will notice that you develop more of an eye for the beautiful soul than merely a pretty face. How people come across becomes more apparent. Their souls begin to appear as if on canvas.
The Sermon on the Mount is the verbal painting of the beautiful soul. It depicts the trusting person content to accept what is given from above and at the same time transcend the inner tendencies to envy, compare, or even hate. No wonder it starts of with “Blessed” — it is the affirmation that you are about to take a tour of the everyday sacred within reach. The elements of this great work of art can be seen in small children and the unassuming. You also know that it resides within you…but you will have to remove the veneer to get to it.
Soul beauty is not ruined by things you have done. Beautiful soul is that which surfaces above your lesser self…and even hides within it. With some discernment, you will be able to see it — even in some of the most difficult people. Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you have some soul work to do within yourself first. Carl Jung was right, “Everything is projection.” We see what want to see. We see what we have been told to see. What we see is what we allow ourselves to see. To see clearly outward we have to be able see clearly inward.
Paint applied to the canvas comes from your failures and disappointments. Blood and tears mixed together must first prepare the brush. It will take most of a century to bring this masterpiece to completion. On some days you will only be able to paint a stroke or two. Be patient. God steadies and directs your hand in subtle ways. Be sensitive to the nudges and the restraints. Quality takes time and bit of suffering.
