Families-R-First

Help and encouragement for families.

Write an Article

Join

RSS

Artistic Beauty of the Holiday Season

Written by kennyo on

This time of year carries with it many blessings from our heavenly Father. The most prominent is the fact that over 2000 years ago the Son of God came to earth as a baby, only later to become the substitutionary atoning sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Nothing compares to this. Another rich blessing I'd like to consider is the annual privilege of experiencing the beauty and art of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet. This year has been especially meaningful to me.
Each year I get to enjoy the Miami-Dade County Auditorium hosting the Miami Conservatory of Ballet's presentation of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Since 1996 I have watched my 2 daughters perform in this ballet as angels, children in the party scene, Clara, clowns, Mirlitons, and many other parts too many to mention. However this year, my oldest daughter Brittany, was chosen for the role of the Snow Queen and the lead role for the Dewdrop. Each piece was magnificent. I was especially moved by her part in Snow Pas de Deux just before the close of the First act.
As I watched my daughter dance this scene, I was hard pressed trying to remember a time when my concentration was more focused. My eyes were unmovable. My gaze was fastened to her every pose and riveted to her every single gesture. All I could think of was... "don't stumble...don't fall...just glide...good, that's good...yes". In the sequence just before hers a dancer slipped on the floor leading me to believe that perhaps the stage was slick in that one spot. I just hoped she would not move to that spot, thankfully she didn't. I had nothing to worry about, in fact, as each step progressed I became more and more stirred by the performance I was witnessing. Not only as a proud father, but as a spectator of the performing art of dance, I was truly stirred inside. I was truly moved. I watched...I just watched and couldn't help but to think to myself..."this is beautiful. How can something like this be so beautiful? The music...the dance, the perfect blend of the two." I've seen this ballet performance so many times but this time I was seeing much more. I watched my daughter dance what I saw as a flawless performance, but I also found myself flooded with the sensation of what I would call true beauty. As I watched, just sitting there in amazement, my mind wrestled with the nagging question..."where does such artistic beauty come from?" Then I thought of the beauty of Christ. I thought... "yes, that makes sense, of course! the Creator would be the source of all artistic beauty". I was made aware afresh the source of all beauty is Jesus Christ. I was reminded of the verse from Psalm 27:4 which reads:
"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple."
I was reminded that pure beauty originates in Him as Creator and Lord. Art, music, and dance can truly reflect beauty. What a privilege it is, He has permitted us to share in artistic beauty. 1 Chronicles 29:11 tells us:
"Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all."
That night was special. Person after person raved about how strong and smooth the performance was. Everyone was very pleased. Later that night as I was spending time with my daughter as she was about to go to bed I shared with her my thoughts of her performance. I told her how beautiful she was and how flawless her dancing seemed to be (I always say that). I told her how she made it look so easy and how she danced as well with her arms, hands, and head as she did with her feet. I also struggled to tell her how her presence on that stage brought the entire ballet to another level. I told her she reflected the beauty of our Creator. I didn't know what else to say. That's the only explanation I can think of. I have to ask...where else could such beauty come from? How else could one explain something which can only be explained through art? Words do not even come close. Maybe that is why God gave us art. To reflect and enjoy His beauty.

	The 2008 Olympics in Pictures The best, up-to-date images of the games straight from Beijing.
	Celebrity Baby Picture Quiz Match celebrity infants with their celebrity parents.
	How old is too old? Older women now have the chance to give birth, but should they?