INSTRUCTIONS: Read and Respond to the three (Ashley, Travis, and Diamond) posts below.Top of Form
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Ashley
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Summarize key points from the documentary for this week.
Dr. Dave goes on a quest to find beauty, as he had previously identified creating a beautiful thing as an important goal on his journey to rediscover his joy. He saw a sign that said, “Beauty will save the world,” which inspired him to actively seek beauty. He thought of butterflies and traveled to Costa Rica to visit a butterfly sanctuary. The butterflies rained out, but he still felt that the place was beautiful and gave him peace. In the second clip, he travels to Kathmandu and Nepal to meet up with some friends and film his friend’s son’s trek to the base camp of Mt. Everest, which takes 9 days at 18,000 feet.
The key points are that of loss, grief, and redemption. Dr. Dave clearly deeply mourned the death of his father and spoke about how his soul stopped breathing when his father took his last breath. His grief followed him wherever he went and was palatable, echoed in the melancholic music and his introspective observations. He reflected on the natural beauty that he encountered on his yearlong travels, which took him to Colorado, Montana, Nepal, and Costa Rica.
Dr. Dave experienced silent contemplation, and his soul was filled with the transformative power of the beauty of God’s wondrous creations. Dr. Dave slowly began to feel alive again. He reflected on being able to breathe the free air and to connect with something greater than himself. The words freedom, genuine, real, and powerful came to mind as I watched the video. Dr. Dave seemed to imply that he was looking forward to the next wondrous experience of beauty in the afterlife when he will reunite with his father.
Reflect on the verses above as you respond to the following questions: What are the ‘good things’ God has created us anew in Christ to do?
I think there are restorative properties in the beauty of the natural world. Nature can heal. God made the Earth, and it is indeed beautiful and good. I think people, at their core, are good and whole, as they are made in God’s image. When we get away from God, are too much in the superficial ego, or feel disconnected from the world and from other people, that is when we feel sadness, loneliness, isolation, fear, and discontent. When we remember, as Dr. Dave did, that we are part of the natural beauty and connected to everything and that love unites and connects us, we can breathe and live again in love and freedom.
What does beauty, craftsmanship, and enjoying our efforts and accomplishments like God did after creating the world have to do with your Capstone Project, TED-Style Talk and/or your life goals and vocation?
I would never compare myself to God, but I suppose I do feel a sense of pride and accomplishment at the achievements of completing the big and small projects related to the MA degree. It was difficult to do, but it took great effort and determination, and it gave me the confidence to be able to go on and do more and to help other people. I don’t know how exactly I will use my degree outside of my current position, but I know I have the tools and competence to do something great. Beauty and craftsmanship are not only about making something tangible like a piece of art or playing an instrument; they can be about using your mind and heart to build a better, more authentic life and to serve others.
Travis
Dr. Dave considered this powerful quote — that beauty will save the world — as he explored Costa Rica in his documentary. His search initially focused on the elusive and striking butterflies that inhabit the region, but erratic rains posed a major challenge, quashing his hopes of photographing the colorful insects. Instead of letting the elements dampen his spirits, Dr. Dave turned his attention to the tropical forest that enveloped him. He soon found endless beauty in the rich textures of the leaves, the sound of raindrops tapping out rhythms on the forest floor, and even the intricate ecology that bubbled onward amid the storm. Rain showers of this particular day were not on the forecast radar, so this experience is a perfect example that unexpected things often lead to a beauty that we may not have planned for.
Focusing on the verses from scripture, I like to expand the subject matter as God having made us anew in Christ for what is gonna be truly worthwhile and will have an impact on us. The “good things” we are called to do are formed in our ability to create beauty, craft, and intentional living. Because of His intentional, creative ways in forming the world, God allowed Himself a day to appreciate His creation, and I have come to understand that we are made in His image and are part of His body in the world, being bringing about His kingdom on Earth, and so we too ought to take moments to cherish the harvest of the things we can engage in fully.
As I reflect on the relationship between this process, my themes, and my Capstone Project being a significant portion of my academic journey, I find that beauty is both more than aesthetic experience; beauty is meaning, the essence of meaning I hope to create in my project, my work- vocation. All of this research, planning, and execution contribute to a creative process similar to God’s creation, where, in spite of hard work, we eventually arrive at moments of fulfillment, happiness and fulfillment. If I could look back on all the time, effort, and work put into my Capstone project, I feel a sense of pride, assurance, and completeness, like that of when God looked upon his creation and said it was “good.”
My TED-Style Talk — a tool for disseminating my findings and insights to a wider audience — reinforces the concept of beauty and craft. An opportunity to share not only the results, but also the passion and commitment that goes into my science. It is like I can make sense of the happiness of creation that God must have felt and relate that into my spiritual context in a practical world.
Ultimately, my life’s purpose and work pursue this theme of cultivating beauty in all I do. I want to touch people, teach and encourage others, and serve society in a way that reflects the Creative image I have as a spiritual being inside me from God. This documentary converges on the theme of finding beauty, even if everything is not perfect, and reminds us that our efforts, like God’s, deserve celebration and rest.
Diamond
This week’s clip from Dr. Dave and the Girl Who Couldn’t Laugh highlights the power of beauty to guide, heal, and even clarify our calling. Inspired by the quote “Beauty will save the world,” Dr. Dave’s journey takes him to Costa Rica, where he visits a butterfly sanctuary. The peaceful image of monarch butterflies gliding with the wind became a metaphor for rediscovery and the quiet power of joy. His experience reminded me that beauty isn’t just about what we see it’s about what moves us, what grounds us, and what points us toward purpose.
Genesis 1:31 tells us that God looked at His creation and saw it was “very good.” Ephesians 2:10 adds that we are God’s masterpiece, created to do the “good things” He planned for us. I believe these “good things” include using our talents and passions to build others up and contribute meaningfully to the world. For me, that directly connects to my Capstone Project, which focuses on helping recent college graduates transition into the workforce. I see this work as a calling, helping others find clarity, confidence, and purpose in the midst of uncertainty.
Like Dr. Dave followed the breadcrumbs of beauty, I’m learning to follow my own through service, coaching, and empowering young adults. There’s beauty in watching someone discover their strengths and step into their potential. That transformation, in itself, is beautiful. And maybe that’s how beauty really does help save the world, one life, one calling, one step at a time.
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