Thought #2

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
~Philippians 4:8

Think on the things that are positive, Paul writes, the pure and lovely, admireable, excellent and praiseworthy.  Easier said than done, I think in my lower moments when I ask, myself what is right?   Certainly the first things I think about that are "lovely" are loons upon a northern lake, dancing on the surface of sparkling waters, with the scent of pine on the warm air.  That's where I went when I was laboring to deliver my daughter (Happy #18 on the 18th!).  Now when I am wondering what in the world is happening, I recall this verse used in my sorority days. 

What are the beautiful things?  Children playing together and laughing?  The cats chasing a feather around, raindrops on roses in a parched land, rational voices discussing the needs and coming to agreement, no one bullied.  (So beautiful!).  Each positive all the more appreciated and enjoyed because of the constrast with the possibilities that the world could produce.   Contrast health happy children in a safe society, versus children hungry and sick in a theater of war unprotected.  Rain to a thirsty land, water running in trickles from up stream spreading to all who need rather than the stopped, stagnant, polluted, or piped away element.

The quilt square that comes to mind for this thought is a contrast of many threads and colors, balanced and working together. This is called a Hindu kolam, the play together of contrasts.