Looking Important

I am a hypocrite. Every day, I encourage others, whether it’s events clients, tourists, or our online followers, to take a moment, and enjoy the calmness of the University Church and its beautiful sacred art. But I never do the same myself. I always find something more important to do, another email to write, or more printing to collect, which leaves me with very little time to stop and appreciate the world around me. I suspect, however, that I’m not alone in my busy neglect of our beautiful space. In our lives today, it can feel as though we barely have time to breathe, let alone take a few moments to stop and truly appreciate what someone else has lovingly made.

This summer, however, there is a chance to resist this modern busy-ness, and intentionally make the space to appreciate our world and its art in our parish trip to the Francisco de Zurbarán exhibition at the National Gallery. A master of the Baroque art world, Zurbarán was certainly someone who took the time to observe and appreciate the world around him, and it shows in his paintings, from the careful use of light to show each tuft of wool on the Agnus Dei, to the real human emotion shown on Saint Francis’s hopeful praying face.

Taking the time out of our busy lives to mindfully appreciate the beauty in our surroundings is a powerful way we can show care for ourselves and the world around us. Joining us at the National Gallery is, in my opinion, a great way to do this, but there are other ways too. When I next find myself rushing about the church, doing important things, for example, I know that I’m going to try my best to take a moment to pause and appreciate the beauty of the building around me, and most importantly, to breathe.