How to be beautiful

Artist: Khalil Gibran*

As a church, we need to reclaim the understanding that adversity can be redemptive and transforming. The so-called "prosperity gospel" promotes the false doctrine that if we just do everything right and believe correctly and think positively that our life will be smooth and successful:

The most beautiful people are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

And here's something else:

When we begin to believe that there is greater joy in working with and for others, rather than just for ourselves, then our society will truly become a place of celebration.

-- Jean Vanier

I read a lot of Jean Vanier when I was in the convent. His understanding of what makes community work is unsurpassed.

This painting is of Gibran's mother standing in front of a relief that depicts a wounded lioness. He said this about it: "This is a portrait of my mother's soul. The soul is there, the simple majesty."