I have had the blessing of being in Down town Chicago over the weekend. I had been before, and thought I knew what I was coming to. When I was here before, it was many years ago in the autumn/ winter. What I found this time, however was extraordinary, an architectural inspiration that in the sunlight, brought delight round every corner.

I don’t have an architectural background. Despite this, I know the variety, abundance and scale of the buildings here are magnificent. There is every style imaginable, mainly well spaced, so you keep seeing them from different angles in every street. The newer contextual buildings are particularly individual and playful, and the engineering behind them, to make them stable in this windy city, is quite extraordinary.

Wandering the streets, and being on the river enabled me to appreciate many of these buildings. You want to know the time period, the architect and their vision, their purpose- to catch a glimpse of their achievement.

Doestoevsky once wrote ‘beauty will save the world’. I don’t know what he meant by that. As a Christian, I know that Jesus saved the world. Maybe part of what he was referring to, is that God gives us all a gift of creativity, to bless and inspire, and beauty can draw us out of ourselves, to just be in the moment and marvel. Beauty comes in different forms- in a song, a poem, a painting, in architecture. And when we are stopped in our tracks, and just look at something exquisite, just for that moment, some of our worries fade, and we feel as if we are experiencing a moment of transcendence, when we feel the presence of God. It is such a gift.

You might think this us a bit of an exaggeration! However I am trying to articulate why visiting here has been so moving. Chicago, like every city has many flaws and troubles. But on a gorgeous day, surrounded by such visual grandeur and variety, I found consolation which brought me peace.

‘God has made everything beautiful in its time’ Ecclesiastes 3; 11- it is wonderful to recognise beauty even in the most unexpected places, and to treasure it.

Creator God- You fashioned this world and all the stars in space, and called it good. As human beings, You give to us the gift of being creative- in song, word, art and theatre. Thankyou for all that reminds us of the richness and variety of our world, in texture and form and style.                        Lord Jesus, forgive us when we choose to destroy instead of create, to negate rather than to nurture. May we notice what is good and true and full of artistry, and give thanks. Holy Spirit, awaken us from our slumber to notice what is true and noble in our world, and to appreciate it and rejoice, Amen.