All that exists is a divinely inspired masterpiece, a tapestry of survival, beauty and mystery. Every creature, every grain of sand, cell, feather, leaf, color, every sound – wonders to behold and contemplate. From the patience of a spider to the fierce instinct of a tiger, the unconditional love of a dog, the primitive nature of a shark, the complex communal world of bees and ants, the dedication and self-discipline of a monk, the struggle and will to survive of a homeless person – all wondrous, all divinely inspired.

But not everyone is able to recognize or appreciate the magnificence which surrounds us. For it is hard to see anything positive in the world when we have allowed ourselves to become apathetic, hopeless and overwhelmed, fearfully staring into darkness as we ride the seemingly endless rollercoaster of emotions which leads into an abyss.

By design, the world has always been a distracting, tumultuous place of polarity – of darkness and light, of beauty and ugliness, of chaos and stillness. A place of purification which tests our mettle and sharpens the edge needed to cut through the illusion of separation. When Soul reawakens, we deliberately choose to keep our attention on spiritual things – on the Creator, on the beauty within and without, in all of Its beings and creatures. It is not that we have become blind or desensitized to the suffering which has always gone on around us, for this is a warring universe; it is that we have earned the wisdom to accept that pain and suffering are as much a part of this world as joy and contentment.

While life is often challenging and painful, it is also a cherished gift to be experienced and appreciated. Heaven is a state of consciousness. Our life perspective determines our experiences in this world. The more we focus on discord and ugliness, the more we will attract these conditions into our universe. It is a spiritual law that our choices return in kind.

By placing our attention on beauty and contemplation, we will attract the highest which life has to offer. While some are filled with fear and dread, running away from the tiny stinger of the bee, others choose to stay close and marvel as the bee contentedly buzzes, passing from flower to flower. While both partake of the bee’s sweet honey, one is aware and appreciative of the simple beauty and complex nature of life; the other is not.

Many look but do not see. Many see but do not appreciate. Take the time to see and appreciate the wonder and beauty all around, and we will never cease to be amazed.