Natural Beauty: Worth the Bite

I detest insects.  I can’t help it.  I like spiders, snakes, dogs, cats, cows, chickens, monkeys, and sheep, but not insects.  They tend to bite me…a lot.  So, I generally do my best to avoid them.  My windows are kept closed if there’s no screen, and I wear Off! or a citronella wristband (so fashionable) to dissuade those little monsters from coming near me.  I try not to invade their space or harm them and wish dearly that they would offer me the same courtesy.

That being said, some things are worth the bite.  Being in nature obviously requires a different perspective.  And traveling through Europe provides so many opportunities to  admire and engage in natural visual masterpieces.  Whether enjoying a precisely manicured French garden or an overflowing English one, hiking through Alpine trails or boating on a river, watching horses while they’re feeding or snow melting into a stream, the beauty of nature is all around you.  And the bonus: it’s often free, it’s accessible, and it’s practically impossible to improve on it.  While painting, sculptures, and photos can be awe-inspiring, you don’t need a museum to see the greatest works of art.  Just step outside and look at the natural world around you.

Now, take a look at these photos and imagine you’re there.  Take a deep breath, smell the alpine trees, the fresh cut grass, and the floral sweetness.  Feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face.  It’s you in the absolute serenity and beauty of God’s creation.  There is no greater perfection.

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