Beauty is under-appreciated. Anything that awakens a wistfulness and longing in your heart for something beyond yourself, for something better, for something perfect, anything that does this should be cherished as a gift from God, a glimpse into the Christian’s future.

I grew up thinking blank verse and abstract art were stupid. Poetry had to rhyme and art had to be a nice picture. I’m anything but a connoisseur of poetry or fine art at this point, but I think they should be given an honest chance, because that’s really the purpose of poetry and art—beauty. And beauty’s a good thing.

I really like where our church is headed right now. We had a really emotional service Sunday morning. To express the weight and impact of the situation, two words should suffice: no sermon. But people were honest, and I think that where honesty happens, closeness and growth follow. At least that’s my hope and prayer.

Overrated: snow.

Underrated: the intelligence of a farmer.