Last week didn’t start off too well.
On Tuesday I had to leave work early because a headache kept bothering me. By the time I made it home, a fever and cough joined in and I came down with the flu. For the last few days, I’ve just been at home in bed.
Being sick is never really beautiful.
Suddenly, I had all this time at my hand, which was kind of confusing at first.
I followed the news about the people suffering in Syria as the war rages on and the world continues watching.
I listened to a teenager explain the political dilemma on gun violence in the US after the Florida shooting.
I read up on ethical fashion and the damage our outrageous materialism does to other people and the ecosystem.
I worried about all the work I couldn’t do now and how much behind that would put me.
I looked out the window into beautiful sunshine, only to remember that I was too sick to go outside.
No, this week was definitely not beautiful.
Depending on our focus, this life can quickly become exhausting and dull and hopeless.
This world can so easily drain life and its sense for beauty.
In weeks like this one, it’s not easy to find beauty, so I have to fight for it even harder.
I look out for the sunshine and bask in the rays that made it through my window.
I decide not to worry about all the undone work, but instead enjoy the time of rest I have been given.
I dive into a good novel and get lost in the story, simply because I have the time for it.
I appreciate that I don’t have to set any alarm clock but can just sleep however long my body needs to.
I pause and pray and hope for the One who sees it all and creates beauty in the midst of all our mess.
In a world darkened with suffering and pain and confusion, we can need any sense of beauty we can get. So tell me, where have you discovered beauty this week?
Writing for Five Minute Friday today.
thisiskatha.com 
Hope you are feeling better!
I hope you feel better soon Katha. Sometimes we have to fight to find beauty or joy, but it’s always worth it!
Thank you, Andréa!
I love how you looked for beauty even when you were sick. There is beauty all around us and like you said it is sometimes really hard to find it. I hope you are feeling better now. Thank you for this reminder to always look for the beauty. Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at Five Minute Friday.
Thanks, Gayl!
Thank you for this article. 🙂 My last week was very busy and full of chaos. But I’ve seen beauty in the faces of my two boys. Everytime I decide not to hurry or be stressed (even because of the boys needs) but to look carefully in the little faces and eyes, I see their beauty – and the beauty of life.
Kids are definitely some good reminders!