Add to the Beauty

I often find myself wondering why I write poems, why I write at all. Today, in the glow of knowing that someone else finds my poems publishable I ask myself again, why? I think we all desire to add something to the world, to create something, to leave something behind. When you are a parent you know that your love and efforts have added brand new people to the world, full of hope and potential. But many of the things we do add to the beauty. We take God's earthly gifts and turn them into something others can enjoy. If you like to cook you do that with the bounty of the earth. If you sew or knit, you take a piece of cloth or a skein of yarn and turn it into something new and useful. If you sing or play an instrument you use the talent God gave you to make music. If you have a flair for decorating you may create a beautiful home to invite others into.

There is a singer I enjoy named Sara Groves. These are the lyrics to her song Add to the Beauty:

We come with beautiful secrets.

We come with purpose written on our heart, written on our souls.

We come to every new morning with possibilities only we can hold.

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces,

calling out the best of who we are.

I want to add to the beauty, to tell a better story

I want to shine with the light that's burning up inside.

It comes in small inspirations.

It brings redemption to life and work, to our lives and our work.

It comes in loving community.

It comes in helping a soul find its worth.

This is grace - an invitation to be beautiful.

And I want to add to the beauty. . . .

And today while listening to her CD on the way home in the car - this song: It Might Be Hope

You do your work the best you can.

You put one foot in front of the other.

Life comes in waves and makes its demands

You hold on as well as you're able.

You've been here for a long time.

Hope has a way of turning its face to you

just when you least expect it.

You walk in a room, you look out a window

and something there leaves you breathless

You say to yourself - it's been a long while since I felt this -

But it feels like it might be HOPE.

That's how I feel today. Thanks for all your well-wishes. To answer a question - a chapbook is a paperback, stapled book of about 26 poems. It is considered a first big breakthrough for a poet.