I am so confused by your post, Peco. In my theology/cosmology, I understand that the higher good is something we connect to, but that serves us best when we bring its sublime love down into our littleness. There is this constant temptation to willfully aspire to mirror God. Yet, the last shall be first. I've learned that it takes great humility to be on the earth path, the camino, where beauty is already abundant, and love is in the hospitality. I've learned that it works best to dance with all our relations. As he sang in the hymn of Jesus in the Apocryphal Acts of John, written in the second century. "Who does not dance, does not know what comes to pass." The dancing way is the way of integrating heaven and earth. Our bodies are the temple.

Beauty is crucial, yes. Those who dedicate lifetimes to majestic artifaces sacrifice themselves and regularly mistreat one another. I learned more about this in David Bringley's book, All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me. A powerful story of art and love.

For me? Anytime we get overly involved with comparing one good to another, my way or your way, we lose. I love the Orthodox and the mysticism of it all. I love being in cathedrals where I am humbled and in awe, and I love my grandchild's corny ingenious joke. Let not beauty's illusions be mistaken for the presence of soul. Soul in body is the greatest art of all. For that, I want to keep my eyes peeled.