We live in a pretty dense city. While you can definitely find pockets of charm, often the prevailing sights and sounds are more tied to the traffic and pollution and trash than to anything particularly beautiful. But a few years ago we moved houses, and instead of going straight through the most crowded parts of town on my way home from work, I now take the seaside road every afternoon.

While I do love the city, I never could have anticipated how much life I would receive from seeing the sea every day. The sight of the sun hitting the turquoise water just right, or the waves crashing over the railing of the boardwalk on a stormy day truly nourishes my soul in a way I didn't even know I was hungry for. 

We were created to enjoy beauty, and though God's creation of course sustains us by providing food and shelter and work and purpose, sometimes I have to wonder if God created things like sunsets for any other reason besides the colors are just plain gorgeous. When God said His work was “good,” the Hebrew word actually implies more than just functionally good. God's creation was beautiful! 

The trees in the garden were “pleasing to look at” (Genesis 2:9) and the Psalmist often marvels at the beauty of the world around him. “The heavens declare the glory of God,” he writes. “The skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1) Later he describes the refreshment his soul receives from green pastures and quiet waters (Psalm 23:2-3). Even Jesus points to the lilies of the field, describing how their beauty far surpasses even Solomon's glory (Matthew 6:28-29).

If we were created for beauty, it makes sense that the lack of it in our lives can leave us feeling empty. As we feed our bodies with food, our spirits with the Word of God, let's not neglect the parts of our soul that crave the beauty of God's creation. Whether that means a walk through a forest, a flower pot on your windowsill, or a glimpse of the sea on your daily commute, let's nourish our souls with the gift of beauty that God created for us.