Thursday, March 5, 2026

God’s Beauty

Read: UMH 144 (This Is My Father’s World)

I’ve long looked to music for inspiration and awe. Like nature, it has brought me closer to God.

Yet for many years “art,” as in art museums, never really spoke to me. My father loved art museums and took us there frequently, but he never discussed or explained any of the art. I basically just ran around the museum and looked for the room with the Egyptian mummies.

However, over the last few years I have come to appreciate the beauty of art. I am fascinated and amazed by the fact that people can create such beauty! My granddaughters both love art and think that spending a day at the Detroit Institute of Arts is wonderful. The older of the two, Maya, tells me about her favorite artists and paintings, and has given me summaries of the lives of various famous artists. Last year I accompanied Maya and Sadie to the Art Institute of Chicago, where we gazed for quite some time at the famous painting by George Seurat about a Sunday afternoon at the park. We also marveled at the loveliness of the Impressionists, especially Monet.

Recently, our Book Club has been reading “Mona’s Eyes,” which is the story of a grandfather in Paris who spends one day a week taking his granddaughter to see and discuss one piece of art. He wants to make sure she is able to “see” these beautiful creations after her world goes dark because of an eye disease.

The book is written by a well-known art historian, and each chapter is devoted to one masterpiece. The author talks extensively about each artist, provides a history of the piece, and explains the technique used. I find myself eager to learn more about the art and artists and anxious to see the pictures of the featured art.

I have realized that God has provided us beauty that comes in many different forms. I just need to open my eyes to discover all the beauty there is to see. But don’t expect to see me in the Modern Art wing.

Jan Versical