Beauty abounds.

In his meditation on today’s #AdventWord, Bro. James Koester of the Society of St. John the Evangelist speaks of the “dream of God” as a place where “the fruits of the kingdom flourish.” He calls on us to be producers of “sweet fruits of the kingdom” in our work, our love, our patience, kindness, generosity and so forth.

The bits and moments of beauty everywhere in creation are also sweet fruits of the kingdom. They are God’s kisses or pats on the back or hand gently steadying us in a difficult time. They enable us to be producers of sweet fruits of our own in loving our neighbor and serving others, especially “the least of these.”

Open your eyes. Let the abundant beauty of the colors of autumn, a dancing butterfly, or snow on a late blossom open your heart.