The first thing that the Bible reveals about anything – even before it tells us about God's love, justice or power – is that God is creative. “In the beginning, God created…” The next 55 verses go into great, poetic detail about the joy that God took in creating the universe. The rest of the Bible highlights it again and again – God is a Creative Artist preoccupied with beauty.

Living in Chicago, we have the privilege of sharing in this creative beauty through a wellspring of live music. Whether it’s at The Old Town School of Folk Music, SymphonyCenter, Schubas, The Cultural Center, The Jazz Showcase, or a neighborhood coffee shop, we can experience musicians, not just simply imitating creation, but imitating incarnation – making truth tangible.

All of which reminds us that Jesus is preoccupied with our spiritual beauty. He took our filth upon himself so that we could be spotless. He became ugly so that we could once again be the shining Works of Beauty that he created us to be.