Category Archives: Beauty

A lesson from Japan

Posted on November 29, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

A friend who grew up in Japan told me that the Japanese prefer to own one thing of beauty rather than many, because if you own one thing you will look at it and truly appreciate it, whereas if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Beauty | Leave a comment

‘Once I had everything but money. Now I have nothing but money’

Posted on July 25, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

In her day Betsey Patterson was regarded as the most beautiful woman in America, so much so that Napoleon’s youngest brother became infatuated with her and married her. Well, that was just the start of a remarkable life, but in … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, emptiness, inner peace, inner yearning, Soul | Leave a comment

Describing the fragrance of a rose

Posted on September 29, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

The Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu used to say: ‘Those who know, do not say; and those who say, do not know.’ It makes me think of the intellectual arrogance of those who so quickly ridicule the faith that has sustained countless … Continue reading →

Posted in Arrogance, Beauty, Bigotry, God, humility | Tagged | Leave a comment

Revelling in the years

Posted on January 22, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Henry Durbanville, in his book The Best Is Yet To Be, wrote, ‘I feel so sorry for folks who don’t like to grow old…I revel in my years. They enrich me…I would not exchange…the abiding rest of soul, the measure … Continue reading →

Posted in Age, Beauty, Life, Life's journey, Life's lessons, old age | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Those who look for beauty will see it everywhere,

Posted on December 23, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A man walking through Times Square, where the sounds of the city are almost deafening, told his friend he could to hear a cricket. His friend said he didn’t believe him until the man walked to a small shrubbery and, … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Beauty, Spiritual blindness, Spiritual discernment, Spiritual Insight | Leave a comment

Eyes that do not see, ears that do not hear

Posted on May 27, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A few years ago the Washington Post arranged for Joshua Bell, a world renowned musician, but dressed in jeans, T shirt and a baseball cap, to play a Stradivarius violin worth more than three million dollars outside the subway. Hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in Awareness, Beauty, Blessings, God, Indifference | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Useless, but beautiful

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

The Chinese have a story about a carpenter and his apprentice resting in the shade of a huge, gnarled oak tree. ‘Do you know why this tree is so big and beautiful?’ the carpenter asked. The apprentice shook his head. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, God's pleasure, Growth, Judgementalism, Transformation, Useless | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Putting on a new face

Posted on October 6, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

According to a report from Reuters, The British Association of Plastic Surgeons now considers it possible to actually replace a patient’s features. Full face transplants are no longer science fiction fantasy. A proposed microsurgical procedure could give new skin, bone, … Continue reading →

Posted in Accidents, Beauty, Healing, Hope, Hope of Glory, New Life, Promise, Self Image, Transformation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

They just don’t get it!

Posted on August 3, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old legend about a beautiful swan that one day alighted on a lake where a crane was wading around in the shallows searching for snails. The crane looked at the swan in wonder, then asked where it came … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Blessedness, Heaven, Spiritual blindness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Humming birds and vultures

Posted on June 15, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There are two particular types of bird native to the deserts of the American South West.One is the hummingbird and the other is the vulture. Vultures live off the rotting meat of the desert, and that’s what they look for. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Food, God with us, Life, Life's journey, Peace, Scavengers, Seeking and Finding | Tagged , , | Leave a comment