Reginald is ugly. Plain and ordinary and ugly. Well, that’s what I’ve been told – and that’s how I’ve seen him since he first came into my life almost twenty years ago. And yet …

And yet … he’s not. He has become a very poignant reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Some would say that Reginald is anything but a beauty or handsome. His legs are bowed. His arms are pudgy. His ears are big. His body is out of shape. His eyes bulge. His neck is short and almost non-existent. His arms and legs are disproportionate to the rest of his body. His mouth is – well, his mouth is … yep, ugly.

Even though for many years, I’ve done various crafts (at one time supporting my son and I with sales from macramé hangings, knitting, crocheting and tole painting art), I always seemed to have more than a critical eye about my efforts … measuring my work against the work of others. It’s been the same with puppet making, papercrafts, prayer beads. “Anyone can create them better than I can” was the tape running through my head.

I’ve borrowed craft books from the library which showed all sorts of wonderful possibilities. I’d try them, but they never looked the way they did in the photographs. I’ve taken craft classes and tried my hand at various projects over the years, and the results were … yech. Never good – never something I’d want to show, give, let alone sell.

Then I became ill – unable to work, unable to take craft classes, unable to do very much other than rest and be still. One morning, the Creator spoke … “Keep your mind active and your hands busy. Make time to reflect.”

Reflect. What a word! Before I knew it, a new craft began to emerge … a new craft working with wood mirrors. Then came the “Seeing … Me” Meditation – then the ‘name’ for the craft (MirrorMeditations) – then a website and business card for the craft (www.mirrormeditations.wordpress.com) – and then friends who looked at the results and asked how much I was selling them for.

Huh???

“They’re not good enough to sell – not pretty enough – not …” and here again, that critical voice took over!

Words in an unrelated email from a cyberfriend jumped out at me: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Duhhhhhh. Well, I know that! But, did I? Really?

An image appeared in my mind’s eye …

Reginald.

Why did the image of Reginald come to me at the moment I read the reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Could it have something to do with the fact that for almost two decades, I’ve been in love with Reginald?

Nawwwww.

And yet, the love I have for Reginald is deep. He speaks words which penetrate deep to the heart of the hearer when he preaches … he makes me laugh … he listens with intentionality and concentration … he …

Well, there’s just so much that I love about him. Ugly? If he’s so ugly, how is it that children delight in seeing him … that elders see beyond his ugliness and share in the joy he brings? Could it be that while society’s standards are such that he is unattractive at the very least, some can behold beauty within him. Reginald – ugly? Why is it that we allow society to dictate what is beautiful, of value, worthwhile … set standards for and what is not?

Why can we not see ourselves as the precious child of the universe who is someone with gifts to share, beauty to reflect, intelligence to use, wisdom to impart and so much more?

Reginald sits at my feet as I finish this little writing … smiling at me. It seems that this blip-on-the-screen-of-life time when I’m unwell, unable to work, must do a lot of resting is a time of grace to reflect on many things. And that brings me back to the craft that has been occupying these days of recovery … MirrorMeditations.

Mmmmmm, interesting — mirrors “reflect.” Reginald wouldn’t be surprised. Could it be that if I and others can see beyond what is evident to be ugliness by society’s standards in Reginald’s face and body and see beauty, others may look at the crafts I do with eyes that perceive beauty?

The Holy One doesn’t create ugliness. God creates beauty. The Creator looked and saw that “it was good.” In the eyes of this beholder, I am beautiful; my crafts are beautiful; Reginald is beautiful.

Created in a life-sized puppet class almost twenty years ago, Reginald was the ugliest in the class. Others laughed at him, literally. But Reginald has had the last laugh … he’s still delighting the hearts of children – endearing himself to the grown-up’s and elders – teaching me about the importance of looking beyond the surface of a person, a project, a craft.

P.S. To Anne who has no idea how her email got me going, to Krista and Kathie who continue to affirm and encourage me in creative pursuits, and to Reginald who is God’s gentle reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, thank you.