Yesterday’s crazy weather had me bravely hunting for beauty in the SNOW of all things! Hello?!?! I need some sunshine and springtime! Daffodils and Dogwoods please! But before I say more about that, I have to say this: your response to my very first post floored me. As in, humbled, surprised, inspired and delighted me! {Out of my excitement, I think I replied to every single one of you! I wanted you to know that you were “seen” and noticed here.} In 4 1/2 years of blogging, I’ve never heard from so many of you all at once. Which tells me that God is up to something deeply good…not just in my story, but also in yours! And for those who don’t share my faith, I want you to know that I’m so glad you’re here. I’m honored beyond words to engage with your brave and beautiful hearts.
Back to yesterday’s weather. {Because even deep hearts like to talk about the weather every now and then! Wink!} Here’s my deep thought: it takes a brave heart to hunt for beauty in snow flurries when you’re longing for sunshine. And a brave heart to hunt for beauty in brokenness.
But that’s what beauty hunting is all about: finding beauty in places where you’re tempted to believe there is none…in brokenness, barrenness, dreariness, depression. I never imagined this could be true, but the most enduring and alluring beauty comes from these very places of struggle and suffering. This is the kind of beauty you really want: the kind that is strong enough, brave enough and true enough to break through the hard places.
The hunt for beauty is life giving…maybe even life saving. Beauty rescues, refreshes, heals and redeems. We were made for beauty, and made to need what it offers our souls. I have a dear friend from college who really gets this. He was more of a bow hunter than a beauty hunter, but he recently said this of his journey: “It’s the beauty that has mattered most.” YES! {I think you’ll enjoy reading Morgan’s heart here. Awesome to have a man’s perspective on beauty hunting.}
Last October, the Lord inspired this crazy idea in my heart: beauty hunting retreats on our farm. And even crazier, people came! And they paid! {You can read about it here.} Like this blog, I had no idea what I was really offering. Photography for sure, but I knew God was calling me to offer more than that. He wanted to offer LIFE! {My husband and I named our farm Ten 10 Farm for this very reason…after the abundant life Jesus talks about in John 10:10.} So on that day, we hunted for beauty, learned a little about photography, basked in God’s glory, then feasted together. What could be more life giving that that?!?!
But then winter came, depression hit, and I isolated and withdrew, which means I cancelled the rest of my beauty hunting retreats. I very quietly deleted the dates from the website and didn’t say a word about it. Oh, but I heard words in my head. Beauty hunting retreats? Who would pay for that? You think you something to offer? Life and light when you’re trapped in the darkness? It’s taken me years to realize this, but that mocking voice is from the enemy of your soul. That’s not how God speaks to your heart.
God speaks things like “Bravehearted Beauty” to your heart! That’s what He called me last month, and that’s who I’m choosing to believe I am today. So with a brave heart, I’m returning to the inspiration God gave me last fall. This spring, I’m offering two beauty hunting retreats followed by a fabulous, farm fresh feast prepared by my very talented husband.
{RSVP via Ten 10 Farm.}
No matter the weather or the season of life, beauty always has the last word. At the end of that crazy snow day, the barn twinkled with filtered sunshine. And that evening’s sunset? A spectacular ball of red glory that pierced right through the clouds. {I wish I could’ve captured it for you.} And then there was today’s sunrise…glory upon glory. The whole earth is FULL of it!
Thanks for joining me in the journey, Bravehearted Beauties.
I’m so glad we’re in this together!
Patti - Linsey, I have been reading your blog for a LONG time now, and want you to know that you have SO much to give through your photos and words! I am so glad that you are brave enough to see through the darkness and follow the light and beauty!!!!
Bravehearted Beauty - Thank you, Patti! I so enjoy giving here, but knowing who’s on the other side of this screen makes it so much sweeter.
Heather P @The Owl with the Goblet - Linsey I am so excited to follow your new blog as I’ve been reading your old one for a while now! You have an incredible ability to capture the beauty in everything around you. Looking forward to see where this new venture takes you!
Bravehearted Beauty - Thanks for joining me in this new journey, Heather. Sounds like you have a blog…and the name intrigues me! Off to see!
Paulette - I too, have been following your blog for awhile now. First for the beauty of the designs in your house and photography. Then, when you moved to Franklin, I began to look forward to your posts due to the fact you were honest about your feelings and difficulties you were facing. I found that to be incredibly brave. I want you to know that you inspire me and move me with your beautiful photography but also your true, heartfelt words that you share. God really is working through you to touch others. Thank you for being brave…and sharing with us!
Bravehearted Beauty - Thank you for seeing the brave in me, Paulette. And thank you for being here to read what God puts on my heart.
Sherry - I have always enjoyed your blog…..all the beautiful photos of your farm and the animals! Just glorious! Your words from the heart really touch me every time I read your posts. And the animals you have are so sweet and beautiful…..truly gifts from God! Thank you and all the best to you.
Andrew - Hi Linsey,
I found your blog a couple months ago through Morgan – his blog and ministry have been incredibly impactful to me over the past few years. (Thank you for your role in his story!) My wife and I were absolutely blown away by your story of moving to Franklin as we just relocated from Northern California to Spring Hill last month. Our stories are so similar. God spoke to our hearts about moving here before we had ever visited or even knew why, but we sensed He was just asking us to “trust”. And we have needed that word every day this year and through the process of moving. Your posts have been so encouraging, inspiring and comforting to us – thank you for your courage and vulnerability. They have made a difference for us. (And for so many others!) Thank you, and God Bless you guys!
Bravehearted Beauty - Honored to have you here through Morgan. Awesome to hear a snippet of your story. When we left Houston, our story sounded so crazy, but as we tell it to people here, they don’t think we’re so crazy. It’s like people here “get it” somehow. Wondering if you’ve found that to be true. Blessings to you and your family!
Jody - I put my wrong email address in last time. Ugh! The good part about that is I have a chance to say one of my favorite parts of your blog (new and old) are the pictures of your sweet dogs. I find that when I’m seeing only darkness, my dog brings me light. Blessings to you on this new adventure.
Bravehearted Beauty - I never thought I’d say this since I wasn’t a dog lover, but thank God for dogs!
Amy Avery - Linsey I am so thrilled for you and this new place in which you are sharing God’s light through your own gifts and talents. You indeed have a very brave heart that sees beauty in the world around you not only through that which is beautiful but also through brokenness which truly a gift. I want to just thank you for your bravery and your sharing here of your story. I joined you when you first moved to Franklin and I have seen how God has worked in and through your trust in him. You said “yes” and allowed God to do the rest. Your willingness to share has inspired me in so many ways and I am grateful. I am at a transitional period of my own life in which I am fine and happy and fully capable of completing my daily work in the world, but yet I feel a deep down brokenness and despair that sometimes overwhelms me. I have known this feeling before and have found that in these times my faith and relationship in God becomes even closer to move me down the path he is calling me to. I trust in his plan for my life, but sometimes it just feels as if I am knee high in mud and it takes every effort to just move forward an inch. I only share this with you because you have so bravely shared those same feelings here and although we don’t know one another I feel comfort in sharing my heart with someone that has felt the same way. Part of me wants to delete what I just wrote to you and not press “post comment,” but I won’t. I thank you again for allowing God’s light to shine in and through you here. You are a blessing to so many!
Bravehearted Beauty - Amy, I’m honored that you would share some of your story here. So glad you didn’t delete. YOU are a Bravehearted Beauty. I think sharing our stories with authenticity is one of the bravest things we could ever do. In a world that presents perfection as the goal, a broken story isn’t easy to share, but it’s the most beautiful story of all. I totally get the overwhelmed feeling and knee-deep in mud feeling. I’ve said that very thing. Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m moving forward at all, but then God gives me glimpses of glory and growth…and uses others {like you} to remind me that I’m moving forward after all! We’ll trudge through together, sister!
Nicole - Here’s to the bravery that is necessary when seasons in our lives hang on longer than we wish they would! 🙂
One day I’d love to come visit you for a day of photography and food and beauty hunting. I’d be traveling from Wisconsin, but I bet it would be worth the trip (after the snow, of course)!
Loving the new blog, Linsey!
Nicole
Bravehearted Beauty - Yes, here’s to bravery! And I’d gladly welcome you to Franklin for a retreat if it works out for you someday!
Lina Fletcher - God is good!I am so blessed to have found you!
A Brave New Year » Bravehearted Beauty - […] I hunted for beauty in brokenness […]
meladerm - This hunting for beauty is great!