M. Suzanne Terry

My OneWord365 for this year is beauty, and this month, I have been a little detached from it.  I haven’t ignored it, but for the most part, I have let others handle it and have said “yes and amen” (or the 21st century equivalent of doing so – i.e., sharing via social media).

I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing.  It’s part of the process.  The additions to my Pinterest Beauty Board this month have been powerful stuff.  Here are some highlights:

– This fantastic Gabourney Sidibe picture and quote

– Stacie Stine’s post about UNT’s Cinderella Project (with pictures featuring two of my beautiful RAs and one of my beautiful residents…excuse me while I have a proud aunt moment…and get this piece of dust out of my eye…)

– Ritz’s post about your worth being a constant, not something that ebbs and flows with what people (even you) consider “better.”

– Pam Hogeweide’s love letter to her body

I meant to read some books this month.  That didn’t happen.  But they are close to the top of the to-read-next pile, so maybe next month.

Two personal moments of beauty stick out to me:

This is me in front of the charming painted window of Blue River Books in Oklahoma.  My friend Jaan took this picture and emailed it to me with the caption “Cute.” I am fighting the urge to argue with that caption. I am fighting the urge to pick the picture apart or deflect your attention from me to the window (look how charming!).  I am fighting it, and I am going to win, because one thing I want to learn about beauty this year is how to find it in the place I already am. I no longer want to insist that something be finished or perfect before I can see beauty there.  I want to see beauty in the present and in the process.  So I am posting at least one picture of myself a month.  I am going to put my face (and in most cases, also my body) on it and label it “beauty.”

I attended the IF: Gathering in Austin a couple of weeks ago and stayed with some Story Sessions sisters at a ranch house in Dripping Springs. Mary greeted us on the way in. Although I am not making it to church as often as I’d like (funny how 3-4 years of not attending services regularly weaves its way into your routine), I am already sensing a change in my spirit.  in previous years, I would have driven by the statue with a “That’s…nice.” This year, though. This year is different. With one look at Mary, the peace of community and covering (you know, the nice prayer-y kind, not the do-what-we-say-or-else kind) set into my bones. This peace pervaded the entire weekend for me – through the triggery worship (my issue, not theirs, to be clear) and conflict and epiphanies.  The one who brought the Prince of Peace into the world kept bringing him into my weekend.  I am new to this, so I’m not sure if that’s how icons are even supposed to work, but I am so thankful.

I’m linking up with Amy Young – join us over there to see how others’ one-word journeys are going!