Appreciating The Unexplained
my queen, walking in front of our flat, coconut in hand...the essence of beauty
The more I experience life, the more I appreciate the unexplainable. I’ve been trying to teach Francois some of the nuances of the love I feel for my wife. Not an easy task, especially when explaining to an 18-year-old Rwandan boy from the village that’s never experienced love.
When he asked me what it’s like to love Ilea, I said, “I could spend the whole night explaining the things I love about her, but I could not explain what I feel in my heart. It’s unexplainable, beyond my words”. This resulted in hours of conversation that has continued since.
The love I feel for my wife is not something I have the ability to articulate in its entirety. If Shakespeare struggled with it, I doubt I’m going to nail it. I don’t have the words to encapsulate it.
The feeling I get from sitting on the beach, overlooking the Indian Ocean with Africa as the backdrop is more magnificent than I could ever describe. When Francois chooses to serve someone else for no other reason than him seeing a need and wanting to help, I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that I am a part of his journey.
Seeing a pregnant mama, knowing that she is choosing to grow a little human inside her womb; that is unexplainable. It’s beauty at it’s purest.
The feeling I get after a hard day of work or a finishing a major project is something I value above most all other feelings. The feeling of understanding your purpose, fulfilling your calling and serving others is more profound than I can explain.
The miracle of how we were created, unique in every way. The way someone can live as profoundly and powerfully as the likes of Mandela, Maya Angelou, Gandhi, Mother Theresa and Bono; that is beyond explanation.
In my experience, the greatest things in life are the ones we have the most difficulty explaining. Francois had a hard time understanding that at first. He wanted to know why. How does that make sense? I explained that it doesn’t have to make sense at all. The true gift is when we can recognize the beauty in something that is beyond explanation.
When you can recognize the beauty in the unexplainable, you’ve found something truly extraordinary. I find it in my relationships with my wife, with Francois, my family, the ocean, Africa, the stars, the moon and in serving others.
It is no longer my desire to figure everything out or find a way for A + B to = C. I’ve learned to appreciate the unexplainable beauty in life. There is a great peace that comes from that. And from that, I find more joy than I ever did from trying to quantify and reconcile life.
There is great beauty is in the unexplainable.
So true Jared. I like how you put your feelings about describing love – “If Shakespeare struggled with it, I doubt I’m going to nail it.”
Wonderful. This is just what I needed to read this morning…. Thank you…..
Jared,
What a beautiful post. I actually sighed after reading it.
Thank you.
Jen
Well said Jared. I also find joy in the unexplainable. Wonder is a gift from God that I want to steward well. Thanks for sharing.
I love this post Jared. I makes my heart swell to hear you talk like this about your bride. We love her too. She is such an important part of all our lives. And the love you describe….or CAN’T describe…. is how I have always felt about your Dad……..and one that so few understand. I don’t serve him because he demands it, because it is expected, or because I feel obligated. I serve him because I love him immensely. I respect him. I cherish every minute with him. And I am so blessed by what he has brought to my life. I know you feel the same about Ilea. I pray you can instill this in Francois in a way that changes his life profoundly. Love you, Mom
I had about the best examples of “unexplainable love” that anyone could ever imagine. You guys set the bar, and I am forever grateful for that. You taught me that there is much more to a relationship than what most people ever choose to experience. Now I am beginning to understand, through my experience with Ilea. I thought I knew love before, but I never understood just how profound it can be. And I know I’m just at the beginning of this journey.
Just yesterday, Francois said, “I have never seen a love like you have with Ilea. It’s like something crazy. I can’t explain or understand, but I can see that it is so strong and so different from others. It helps me to understand why you value life and care so much.” And once again, I am at a loss for words. Yet another unexplainably profound experience.
Jared
What a beautiful description of the inexplicable!