There Is Beauty All Around
Confucious once said, “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” Is this true? How, then, do we better notice beauty around us? Perhaps we might find beauty in a person, a place, or even a story, like here on The Apple Seed!
Today’s collection of stories explores the definition of beauty. Storytellers John McCutcheon, Kevin Cordi, Fran Stallings, Margaret MacDonald, Holly Robinson and Ed Stivender share the lovely, the good, and the uplifting in their stories from around the world.
On today's episode, enjoy the following:
“Streets of Sarajevo” by John McCutcheon from Untold/Unsung (4:41)
A song honoring a cellist who dutifully played every day outside of a bakery where 22 people lost their lives in Sarajevo.
“Listen to the Strings” by Kevin Cordi from Wisdom Keepers: Wise Tales and Wise People (8:28)
An aspiring young guitarist who worries his songs have lost their beauty, but a suggestion from a mentor proves him otherwise.
“Too Much Help” by Fran Stallings from Stories and Songs for a Green Earth (8:52)
When a village fails to care for the town they’ve created, magical wooden figures are built to put the place in order. According to the legend, these figures become what we know as monkeys!
“Kanji-Jo, the Nestlings” by Margaret MacDonald from Tuck-Me-In Tales (15:23)
When a family of baby birds hatch, they can’t seem to find their mother! Questing to find her, they use the only identifier they know of to seek her out: her songs.
“The Most Beautiful Thing” by Holly Robinson from Folk Tales Utah Storytelling Guild Story Collection: Volume 2 (4:38)
In our next story, the mighty Lion holds a competition for the other animals to bring him “the most beautiful thing.” A mother monkey can’t help but bring the most beautiful thing to her: her new baby.
“The Gospel of Beauty” by Ed Stivender from And Once Again... (1:44)
Here's a poetic piece from Ed Stivender expressing his ideals for what makes the world beautiful to him.
Radio Family Journal: "Eye of the Beholder" (6:05)
In an episode filled with stories exploring the beauty around us, Sam takes a moment to reflect upon his first ideas about what was beautiful in the world, and how they tie in to his hometown.