Each week during our Beguiled by Beauty worship series, we'll post an opportunity for you to go deeper into the practice of lectio divina, or “divine reading,” an ancient practice of engaging deeply with sacred texts, inviting us into a transformative encounter with God's word.
This practice unfolds in four movements: Lectio (Reading), where we carefully listen to the text with an open heart; Meditatio (Meditation), where we ponder the words, allowing them to resonate within us; Oratio (Prayer), where we respond to the text by conversing with God; and Contemplatio (Contemplation), where we rest in God's presence, embracing the silence and mystery of divine love. Each week, as we embark on this journey, may these steps guide us closer to the heart of God and the beauty that surrounds us.
WEEK 5
The Beauty of a World Without a ‘Why’
This week, you are invited to discover a world of pure, unfiltered beauty. Wendy Farley beautifully captures this essence when she says, "The beauty in other beings exists completely for itself—not for any reason other than that the joy of existence is the purpose of life." Imagine a world where things simply are—without needing a reason or serving a purpose. This is where true delight resides. Beauty has the power to shift our focus from ourselves to the wonder of the world around us. By letting go of expectations and judgments, we open our hearts to appreciate the inherent worth and beauty in all things, including ourselves.
The Song of Songs invites us to embrace this perspective through its lush, poetic language. Nature becomes a canvas for adoration, where the human form is celebrated as a masterpiece of creation. This ancient text reveals a profound truth: perfection isn't the goal; embracing imperfection is. Beauty is intrinsic, independent of external validation.
Let's embark on a journey together. Suspend your judgment, allow your heart to open, and discover the profound beauty within yourself and the world. You are the "Dearest" of this love letter.
Lectio (Reading)
Read Song of Songs 4:1-7 slowly, savoring the poetic imagery and the deep sense of adoration.
Look at you—so beautiful, my dearest!
Look at you—so beautiful!
Look at your eyes, sweet as doves
behind the veil that your hair makes,
as it cascades from your head
like a flock of young goats—
black ones, bounding down off Mount Gilead.
And your teeth are sheep:
white as the day they were born,
or newly shorn, and freshly washed,
each with its perfect mate.
Not one of them is alone—
why should we be?
And, ah, the lips of that lovely mouth—
a ribbon of scarlet.
Your temples, behind that veil,
glow like the halves
of a freshly sliced pomegranate.
Your neck has the grace of David’s Tower,
with its jewels hung round it
like the shields of a thousand warriors.
And your breasts—like the twin fawns of a gazelle,
hiding among the lilies.
All my nights, till the sun
comes chasing its shadows,
let me play in these perfumed hills,
these mountains scented with myrrh.
You are utterly beautiful, my dearest;
there’s not a single flaw in you.
Meditatio (Meditation)
Using the Visio Divina video and haiku below, reflect on the idea that beauty exists for its own sake, not to serve a purpose or fulfill a function. Consider how this perspective can change the way you view the world and yourself.
unfiltered beauty, untethered; wild and divine, imperfection embraced (Josh Judd-Herzfeldt)
Oratio (Prayer)
Pray for the grace to see and appreciate the beauty in all things, without the need for justification or purpose. Ask for the ability to let go of judgment and embrace the joy of existence.
Contemplatio (Contemplation)
In quiet reflection, imagine yourself surrounded by beauty that needs no reason to exist. Allow yourself to simply be, without the need to justify or explain your worth.
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