I was having a conversation with a dear friend about beauty and what a blessing it is that such a concept was created. The ability to experience this sensation with each of our five senses is incredible- we can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel beauty- but what is even more amazing is that it transcends our senses. We recognize beautiful acts, thoughts, feelings, emotions. It resonates in our hearts like only the most important things do.
What’s sad is that sometimes it still seems like we have to be forced to appreciate it. We seldom go out of our way to seek out something beautiful; instead we only embrace beauty if it happens upon us, almost like these encounters are by accident. It’s unfortunate that these small miracles are so inconsequential to us because we are either too far-sighted to see right in front of us or too short-sighted to truly look around us. These gifts meant to be treasured are taken for granted. In fact, many times we only notice beauty intended for us when we are made to notice.
Case in point: I left work last Wednesday, took same walk to the Muni stop with the same thoughts running through my mind and the same desire to just have my day progress as uneventfully as possible. In other words, I did what I normally do.
And in doing so, I walked right past the four people in the picture above who were making some of the most incredible music.
But then.
Muni broke down. The mall closed. My iPod died. And the string quartet started playing the best five minutes of music Bach ever composed. All in the span of seconds. And suddenly I had a second chance to experience something so marvelous and something so clearly meant for me. Suddenly I was left with no other choice but to stop. To sit. To revel. To hear the beauty echoing all around, swelling and subsiding, bouncing its way off the walls of the station seemingly straight into my soul.
To see the beauty etched on the faces of the four musicians who so clearly and passionately loved their craft.
To feel the beauty of time slipping away, piece by piece, measure by measure, note by note.
To recognize the beauty and the significance of this single moment.
And to notice- really notice- how amazing beauty can be.
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Now playing: J.S. Bach – Air
Posted by bmwong 
