On Stewardship and Beauty

Each and every one of us is called to be a steward, to graciously accept that which is given to us, and to honor and care for it. For everything we own is a gift from the Most High. To care for and cultivate the beauty of our material belongings is to give glory to Him who bestowed them upon us.

Beauty, along with truth and goodness, has long been recognized as a transcendental. Wherever there is good, and wherever there is truth, there also is beauty—not only as a physical trait, but one that can apply to the immaterial as well. This beauty inevitably points to the power of our Lord and God, from whom all beauty and goodness flow forth.

Material beauty in particular inspires such a sense of awe that one can not help but be reminded of Gods goodness. A beautiful work of art, a magnificent landscape, or even a well-crafted furnishing offers a sense of wonder that ultimately points upward. It gives a small sense of gratitude, which in turn allows for gratitude in greater things—for all the blessings in life.

I have long disagreed with the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, that it is something subjective that ebbs and flows with the fads and whims of society at large. Beauty is most certainly an objective truth. It lies in the very fabric of nature, in a sunrise reflected in the sea, or a starry sky on a cold winter night. It lies in the proportions of a well-ordered building or the subtle detail in a handcrafted mantelpiece.

Quality craftsmanship lies at the heart of beauty in many cases. The longevity of a piece of handcrafted furniture, and the various nicks and stains that occur through its daily use, are not signs of decay in a well-built piece, but of a life well lived. What can be more beautiful than a furnishing whose function is fully realized, whose appearance is improved upon through the years, despite the wear (So reflective of our human nature). In this case, thoughtful repairs and restorations are needed to preserve the life and memories associated with said furnishing, and to combat the throwaway culture in which we now find ourselves.

Stewardship is therefore not merely a duty, but a way of living in gratitude. Nothing we possess is truly our own, but is entrusted to us for a time. The home, the furnishings within it, and the various odds and ends we collect over time are given to us to use well, to preserve, and to pass on. To neglect them is to forget the care with which they were first made, and to forget also the generations who may one day depend upon them.

To be caretakers of that which was given to us—not only to keep it, but to truly care for it—is the hallmark of a grateful heart: to uphold the beauty in our lives that has been graciously passed down to us, and to ensure its continued function for generations to come. That is what it means to be a good steward.