It’s Monday morning. I looked in the mirror. I was hoping that the image displayed would be that of a rugged, ‘enstubbled’, ‘Hollywood actors’ face beaming back. It wasn’t.

I looked half asleep. Because, I was. I looked unshaven. Because I was, but unkempt was the word that also sprang to mind. And, whereas Hollywood actors never have a hair our of place even when waking up in those movies, I can only say mine was ‘zingy’ (what’s left of it), and pointing in all direction. Had I slept in a wind tunnel?

I know the purists might say that this being a Japanese concept, it has nothing to do with Celtic ways, (Celtic) Christianity or Druidism etc, but I (respectfully) disagree. The essence of a person, what makes you ‘you’, your worth and your status, your presence in the Universe, has everything to do with these ancient ways, as the ancient Celts and Druids ‘looked deep’ into things, weren’t superficial (as some of our advertising that bombards us’, is), and had a great(er) understanding of being; we can learn a lot from them and this Japanese word. There is an overlap, a commonality, here.

Wabi-sabi, then, represents Japanese aesthetics and their particular world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is ‘imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete’ It is a concept derived from the Buddhist teaching, but it speaks volumes to us as latter-day Celtic Christians and Druids etc. We can learn a lot here, and that can only benefit each one of us on our spiritual journey..

You are more.

So, remembering Wabi-sabi, when I look in the mirror: those are not wrinkles, those are laughter lines.

That is not a blemish, it’s part of my uniqueness.

And that ‘zingy’ hair? Where’s the hair gel?

Okay, there’s stubble there….but in a few minutes it’ll be gone.

And, when I look even closer: that scar, isn’t ugly, but, rather it’s a badge of honour to show the life I’ve lived, the traumas I’ve overcome and that life, a gift from the Source, goes on.

And, we’re more than what we see ‘externally’. But, nevertheless, what we see externally is natural, authentic, honest and therefore beautiful. But, we are more. We have an invisible life and being, that is eternal, but for now, we see as in a mirror, darkly.

But, you are more. We are more.

You and I are beautiful (or handsome) just the way we are.  One of my favourite contemporary poets, Anis Mojgani , wrote:

Come closer.
Come into this. come closer.
you are quite the beauty.
If no one has ever told you that before know that
now. you are quite the beauty.
There is joy in how your mouth dances with
your teeth. your mouth is a sign of how sacred your life truly is.
come into this. true of heart come into this.
You are true of heart. come closer. come closer.
Know that whatever God prays to He asked it to help Him make
something of worth.
He woke from His dreams scraped the soil from the spaces
inside Himself made you and was happy.
You make the Lord happy.
Come into this.
Come closer.