Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8, TLV

Whenever I read this verse, I think of Betsie ten Boom, Corrie’s sister. In the movie, The Hiding Place,  the ten Boom sisters stood in line waiting to be deloused at Ravensbruck concentration camp. The administrator of the powdery substance whipped the poison at each person, not warning the women when it was about to hit them. Women walked away coughing and rubbing the powder from their eyes.

Betsie, on the other hand, thanked the guard, then walked further onto the hard, barren grounds, and looked up.  She commented on how lovely the day was. The blue skies. A gentle breeze. Birds chirping.

Even when she was brutally beaten, Betsie made the most of the free moments to dwell on those things of virtue and beauty. Her frail body bleeding, Betsie would say to her sister, “Don’t look at it, Corrie. Look at Jesus only.”

Let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is near. (vs. 5, TLV)

If we focus on the “brutality” around us, we will only see the barrenness, but because the LORD’s spirit is in us, we can look up and see what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. Anything worthy of praise. It’s out there.

There’s plenty of doom and gloom. But there is more of what is good.

You are from God, children, and you have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4, TLV

It’s our choice, really. To see the barrenness, or to see the expanse of eternity. The beauty left in GOD’s creation. Let’s choose wisely and keep our heart and mind focused on those things.