Truth, Goodness and Beauty

Before the birth of Christ, philosophers like Plato and Aristotle discussed things beyond the physical world which explained reality and existence. They focused on three values:  truth, goodness and beauty.

 St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Thomas Aquinas  believed: 

1.     God is the Standard and Source of all that is True, Good, and Beautiful. Everything is an outpouring from God. 

2.    When searching for and recognizing Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in one’s reality and the world, the fulfillment of such a search is found ultimately in God and nothing else. 

 You can say they’re the fingerprints God left all over reality when He made it. They provide clues about who God is. Follow the bread crumbs long enough, and any one of the three will lead you back to the Three in One—who is perfect Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. 

While we’re all drawn to all three, everyone is going to find themselves drawn particularly to one of them. Today, take time to meditate on this:

Get to know your own heart, and lean in to what you’re most drawn to.

If truth, study more. Allow your mind to lose itself in “things above” (Colossians 3:2) and don’t apologize for it! 

If goodness, pay attention to how God speaks to you through the experiences of everyday life. Let Him show you how the Faith works so well (i.e. “is good for you”). Revel in the God who doesn’t just reveal great truths, but the world’s best advice. And be extra intentional about putting the wisdom of God into everyday action. 

Caught up in beauty? Lean in! Make a point of stopping and smelling the roses, stare at a painting you love, watch a sunset until it's gone. Don't take a camera or a journal with you, those can distract you. Just be in the moment. Later, you can document what you saw, heard and felt.  

And while you should nurture all three, lean in most to how God is luring you to Himself as you experience reality.