Make The World More Beautiful

I like the wildness of day lilies.
I like the way they bloom high above the green leaves below.
I like the way they seem to bow for the performance at hand.
I like the beauty of the lone flower swaying in the breeze.

Day lilies in bloom line the roads this time of year.
Outside one of my windows, day lilies bloom abundantly.
They cover a small hillside, protecting the ground from erosion.
Beauty and function, as God designed.

When I see day lilies lining the roads, I wonder who may have planted them there.
My day lilies were originally bulbs given to me by a friend.
I planted all of them in the moist earth and waited.
I knew that something mysterious would happen below the surface in time.

There is a children’s book by Barbara Cooney I have always loved.
It is based on a real-life story based on the life of Miss Rumphius, the Lupine Lady.
The beautiful lupines that bloom along the coast of Maine are attributed to her.
Miss Rumphius simply wanted to make the world more beautiful.

It was a promise that she made to her grandfather.
Miss Rumphius’ grandfather traveled the world and lived by the sea.
She wanted to grow up and be just like him.
He was pleased with the thought of that but challenged her with one more thing.

You must do something to make the world more beautiful.

Miss Rumphius did travel the world and saw many far-away places.
She met all sorts of people and did all sorts of things in her travels.
One day, when riding a camel, she hurt her back.
She knew that it was finally time to live in her house by the sea.

She kept her promise to her grandfather; almost.
There was one more thing she needed to do.
She must do something to make the world more beautiful.
She did not know what that could possibly be.

She looked out of her window and saw beautiful lupines, her favorite flower.
She decided to plant more lupines so that everyone could enjoy them.
Everywhere she went she scattered lupine seeds.
She could not possibly imagine the scope of her action.

After a time, Miss Rumphius took a walk on the other side of a hill.
She could not believe her eyes.
There on the other side of the hill were lupines.
Lupines she never planted; yet lupines that were there all the same.

Her simple act to make the world more beautiful did just that.
She scattered here and beauty popped up over there.
She planted seeds here and flowers grew over there.
Her one simple act literally made the world more beautiful.

From one seed came many seeds.
Seeds that were scattered on the wind and carried in the beak of a bird.
Beauty that was transplanted mysteriously.
Beauty that was multiplied intentionally by the Creative Designer of Beauty.

The Lupine Lady simply spread beauty in her own little corner of the world.
God had another idea altogether.
What seemed like a random act, had meaning and purpose.
Through the simple scattering of seeds and God’s perfect design, beauty flourished.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good, Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:9-21)

You must do something to make the world more beautiful.
In your own little corner of the world, you must do something.
You must scatter seeds of beauty then wait and be amazed.
Be amazed at what is on the other side of the hill.

Beauty that is carried on the wind.
Beauty that mysteriously multiplies.
Beauty that starts simply and extends rapidly.
Beauty that knows no bounds.

Do something to make the world more beautiful.
Something small.
Something seemingly insignificant.
Watch what God does.