I am constantly in awe of the colors of fall leaves. I could probably sit and gaze at a tree with fiery red, orange and yellow leaves for hours. I especially love seeing trees that have the full gradient from green to yellow, orange, red, and all the shades in between.

Beauty can be discussed on so many levels. From visual appeals like fall leaves to more abstract beauty in the human experience. Beauty exists in visible objects, emotional experiences, personal qualities, relational dynamics, cultural traits, creative expressions, and the list goes on.

What I see as the most salient aspect of beauty is that across all experiences of it, a response is elicited from within us. On an internal level, beauty evokes a sense of joy, peace, hope, interest and curiosity. For me, the emotions are often initially accompanied by tears, a smile, or a deep breath. And then, I want to tell someone about it.

Whether I take a picture of a tree to text to my husband or relay a story to a friend about an interaction that I saw, I want to tell someone about it. Even in my work as a therapist, I am frequently noticing and reflecting back to clients about the beauty in their expressions of resilience and growth.

Beauty interrupts, creates pause, and moves us. It shifts our emotions and mindset, and can influence our behaviors and relationships in both big and small ways.

When I think about the story of Jesus overturning the money changers’ tables at the temple, I don’t immediately get a sense of joy, peace, interest, or curiosity. My first reaction is, Wow, how angry! But, on thinking about the situation further, I realize there is beauty.

There is beauty in the integrity of having such strong conviction about injustice that one does not peacefully move along. There is a necessity to resist, grow angry, and overturn tables. That is beautiful.

And, it feels so painfully counter to my harmony-seeking, group-joining, calmness-promoting nature!

But, dissonance, resistance, and disruption can be beautiful. Sometimes, we need to amplify the dissonance to bring attention to the injustice. Sometimes, we need to go against the tide and contribute to the creation of a new wave. Sometimes, we need to disrupt the status quo that can settle into ignorance or negligence of the needs that exist in society.

As we seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God, we join a movement of promoting God’s Kingdom on earth. And with the Spirit of God in and among us, beauty happens and beauty exists with great purpose and meaning.

And then?

We tell people about it.

Liz Chang is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and works with individuals, couples and families at a group private practice in Manhattan (Holding Hope Marriage and Family Therapy, https://www.nyc-couples-therapy.com/). Liz has enjoyed experiencing life in the midwest and the pacific northwest during her young adulthood. She studied Marriage and Family Therapy at Seattle Pacific University and misses Seattle’s beautiful summer months. Liz is a Korean-American born and raised in New York City where she and her husband now reside. They enjoy going for walks, exploring new neighborhoods, cooking, traveling, playing spikeball, and watching their cats be cute (Instagram @bennyslyf).