A Word About Miraculous Beauty

My first struggle was to come up with a title for the book. I started with Scarred, Scars, Rifts, Life's Struggles, Hope, etc. When I thought of Miraculous Beauty, my first reaction was that it could come across in a less than respectable way. But, then again, any title introduced to a corrupted mind would have that affect.

Then I began seeing the point of it and how, above anything else, it pointed to the reality of the story, that the characters each had their own beauty and, as you'll read, each one that surfaces is just as much a miracle. The only difference is that some miracles are more apparent than others, larger than others.

Talking with my wife, she had just mentioned to me that I'd been working on this story for the last two years, which is true. Something that started out as nothing more than a writing exercise to flush out characters for a bigger vision I have, Miraculous Beauty took on a life of its own with characters that are both typical and unusual to someone you might see in every day life.

The most difficult to understand or accept, I believe, are those who have a near perfect persona. This happens, I believe, because we exist in a cynical world, one that when beauty is seen beneath the surface -- perhaps I could call it a beauty of goodness and love -- but when we come across this kind of perfection, I notice that our first reaction is to doubt the truth of it and seek what's wrong as opposed to what's right.

On the surface, we seem ready to trust the beauty we see with our eyes, even if it's one that's brought about due to societal factors and media perceptions. Still, we have no problem accepting superficial beauty.

So, at least for me, it brings the question, why do we appear so ready to accept what exists on the surface as opposed to what exists within?

After all, couldn't a woman with a beautiful face, well shaped body, couldn't she turn out to be just as horrible as not? Couldn't a man, handsome face and strong athletic build, couldn't he turn out to be just as good as not?

The uncertainties within are no different than those without -- in fact, it might be argued that the 'cover of a book' can mislead more than what's within. At least, that's how the saying goes. So, what makes us so sure of our eyes over our ability to see what's within a person?

Miraculous Beauty forces us to ask those questions and to seek beauty within as much as without. In some cases, we'll find characters fooled. In other cases, we find that characters end up fooling themselves. Still others, we find characters who, though they trust, mistake their own issues of trust. How is all this resolved?

Well, that question can't be answered without reading all three books.

MB1 #6 - Mother And Son

The relationship between a mother and son is a unique love. A mother protects her son from the world. She makes sure he is happy and healthy. Teaches him how to care for others, to love, by her actions. As her son grows, he begins to find the conflict between the love shown him by his mother and the bigger world he eventually has to enter. He begins to see the world in the way a boy does, in order to fit in with the other boys around him. From here, the fight and confusion begins. His mother understands since she's taught him from the time he was a baby. And as he grows and changes, she continues to teach him and remind him, always understanding, always waiting for him to see.

       Aaron spent the rest of the afternoon recounting his time with Matt and how well he threw, as well as how Shalene was there for him. “Mom, I've never known it, but Shalene helped me to see what it was about pitching that made me so afraid after I lost it.”

       His mom's interest peaked. She saw the spark in her son's eye that she hadn't seen in such a long time.          With a sly grin, she asked, “You finally figured that one out, huh?”

       He sat studying his mom who's expression displayed her understanding.

       Aaron's mom added, “I've known for quite some time your issue and how it's linked to your dad.”

       “Really?”

       “Yep. I just could never get you to see it.”

       Aaron thought back to discussions with his mom but couldn't think of a time when she had mentioned him as the reason for his difficulties getting back into baseball. “When did you bring dad up?”

       “When? Every time. You'd act like I hadn't said anything, so I let it go.”

       “I don't remember.”

       “When you started talking about the teams calling and asking for you to come back, do you remember what I said to you?”

       Thinking, Aaron shook his head.

       His mom asked, “Do you remember I told you how proud your dad was of you?”

       “Yeah. No matter what I did, he was proud.” Aaron responded.

       “That's what you heard, Aaron.” Before continuing, Melinda shook her head slowly and added reflectively, “You are your father's son, no question about it.” She then smiled and continued, a peace coming over her, “Aaron I told you how proud your dad was of you and how much baseball was a part of you both.”

       Aaron thought, as if in a daze. He knew she wouldn't lie to him, and part of him seemed to recall the words, just not in the way he heard them at that moment. After the talk with Shalene in the car, Aaron now saw how his mom had been trying to help him see what he couldn't. Helpless, he looked at his mom. “How did I miss that for so many years?”

       “Because you weren't ready for it. Now, you're ready and Shalene seems to be a part of that.”

FINAL NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: The best compliment of a woman just might be that she could help a man see something his mom had seen all along.