Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Yesterday I had the opportunity to be a part of an assessment panel for a man that was refered to as a tohunga whakairo. My grandmother talked about a tohunga as someone who was spiritual in nature, of someone who can see things that others couldn't. In the context of where I was, this particular man, who was given blocks of wood and given some learning outcomes to achieve, produced three stunning, amazing creations. To put into context what he had made - these pieces were being sold for $120,000 for the largest and my favourite was being sold for $75,000.

I sat there amazed that this man could see the end results from looking at planks of wood. He could see the beauty in something that others would easily overlook and turned something ordinary into these magnificent pieces of art. In fact one of the bases of his creations had been discarded rimu that you could tell was once twisted and unattractive.

This caused me to reflect on how we as people look at others. What are some of the things that we should look for, sometimes unseen by others, in those people around us that help us recognise and in some cases remember that they have unlimited potential?

1) Eyes
The eyes are said to be the windows to the soul. Let's look for people whose eyes are friendly, cheeky, happy, caring and giving.

2) Words
Listen to the kinds of words that are being spoken. Do the people you are surrounded with tell the truth? Do they write words of inspiration? Here are some words that a husband (Robert Browning) wrote on his wedding morning to his bride (Elizabeth Barrett):

"You will only expect a few words. What will those be? When the heart is full it may run over; but the real fullness stays within....Words can never tell you....how perfectly dear you are to me - perfectly dear to my heart and soul. I look back and in every one point, every word and gesture, every letter, every silence - you have been entirely perfect to me - I would not change one word, one look,.....you have given me the highest, completest, proof of love that ever one hunan being gave another. I am all gratitude - and all pride....that my life has been so crowned by you".12 September 1846

3) Actions
Watch for the actions of those around you. Are they actions of someone who loves easily, or judges harshly? Or they like the people described by Albert Einstein when he said "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing". Let's choose to be around others like those Edward Everett Hale talks about when he said:

I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

4) Touch
How do people you associate with touch others around them. Do they push and shove others? Do they embrace those in need? Today I sat next to a woman who was crying. I sat there for a moment, then I reached for her hand and held it. I don't know if it helped at all, but it was the only way I could tell her that I cared without saying a word.

5) Smile
One of the Directors where I work has a saying that a smile increases the value of his face.... which actually led to him being called Mr Sunshine. True to form everytime you see him he is smiling. What better weather pattern to be than sunshine!

Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder - so lets have another look this week at the people around us finding the potential they have to become great and marvellous individuals. We are not looking for things that others see - we are looking for the things that only we know of them ;-)

Yours in friendship

Mxox