Last year I read the book Wild by Cheryl Strayd, a personal account of her solo-hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, where she walked over 1,000 miles from the Mexican to the Canadian boarder. When she started out on this journey, she was utterly broken in every way- newly divorced, unemployed, sleeping around, using Heroine, and deeply grieving the loss of her mother to cancer. By the end of the trek, she had walked herself back to wholeness. She had wrestled with her demons and won, rediscovering the woman her mother always wanted her to be. At one point along the trail, Cherly remembers something her mother always used to say, something that originally annoyed her but now brought her comfort. She said, “There’s a sunrise and a sunset every day, and you can choose to be there for it – you can put yourself in the way of beauty.”

And that’s exactly what I did this week. I chose to wake up early to attend Surf Convocation, a weekly gathering of christians from my school who praise god on the beach during the sunrise. As difficult as it was to drag myself out of bed at 6:00am, I am so glad I put myself in the way of beauty. Sometimes creation demands to be marveled in.  The rest of my week included bowling night, work, essay writing, and more work. Fun stuff. This weekend is shaping up to be pretty busy as well, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. Bring it on! I wish you focus, productivity and success these next two days. But above all, I hope you cross paths with beauty this weekend!

Question of the Day
Have you consciously put yourself in the way of beauty lately? What keeps you energized and refreshed during the week?