By Stephen DeSena
“We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words — to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.” ― C.S. Lewis[1]
The Glory of God is beautiful… We intensely crave it. We incessantly seek it. We tirelessly long for it. We sell our souls for it. We need it. Why? Because we were made to worship glory. As the holiday season came to a close, we as Fellows have stepped into this season of job searching, resume building, and network crafting together. As Image bearers carrying out the creation mandate, we naturally form and fashion culture wherever we go. In this process of culture creating, I ponder over the numerous ways we can create and craft beauty that points others to the one who is Beauty. How do we reveal God as most glorious to those around us? How do we align our lives with Paul who charges, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”[2]
In our fallen state we yearn to be reconciled, to behold the holy presence of God’s radiant Shekinah Glory. In our exiled perversity, we detrimentally worship the glimpse of glory in the finite, created things of this temporal world rather than worshiping the glory of the eternal, infinite Creator who is forever praised.[3] From the taste of youthful lust, to the ravenous desire for power and control. From the insatiable need to acquire capital, to the over-idealized sense of ego. Idolatry is central to our human condition. It either towers over us with its demands or subtly slithers in the shadows of our endeavors. How foolish am I to believe that any created thing in this world, including myself, could ever deliver upon the promise to provide ultimate comfort, safety, security, health, and satisfaction. Day by day I am reminded that God is my ultimate source and He has created our human souls to be satisfied in Him alone. There is no substitute. I ask myself, am I satisfied with God? He is all I need, but is he all I want?
God gives us himself … freely. The sweet gift of his intimate, everlasting glory is our greatest delight and most certain hope. All of redemption history centers upon Jesus who is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.[4] And through his life, death, and resurrection we can be sure of this, that those whom he has called, he justifies, and those whom he justifies he also glorifies.[5] God is the beauty we crave, the beauty we seek, and the beauty we need. As adopted Sons and Daughters, we are eternally united to bask and forever relish in the one who is Beauty.
[1] The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis, [2] 1 Corinthians 10:31, [3] Romans 1:25, [4] Hebrews 1:3, [5] Romans 8:30
Pictures from the Week
Fellows Capital Commons Christmas celebration!
Fancy Fellows Christmas party at the Borcherding’s. Caption this photo …
Beholding a stunning sunset during our Winter Retreat at the beautiful Claggett Center
What’s better than a double rainbow!? A glorious Rainbow-Sunset Duo, in my opinion
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About Capital Fellows. Capital Fellows is an advanced leadership and discipleship program for recent college graduates. Through graduate courses, a paid internship, one-on-one mentoring and many leadership and community service opportunities, fellows develop and apply their gifts in real-world situations while learning to integrate a Christian worldview into all areas of life. Capital Fellows is a unique opportunity to live and work in the Washington DC area and to be an active member of a supportive community that seeks to serve the city with the love of Christ. It is also a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in the workplace while deeply exploring God’s design for us as workers and contributors to human flourishing.
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