Chicago’s Hidden Beauty
“Aesthetics, as I understand it, is theoretical examination of the nuances afoot in God’s world, especially the human capability to be imaginative.”
It was close to 10pm. We had just landed in Chicago. Airports don’t usually have the reputation of being “beautiful.” But amidst the stillness of a late night, a brisk quiet coolness, and a few phone-facing bus passengers, sat the bus driver.
I thought of Calvin Seerveld’s idea of art and beauty as this man made the intentional choice to sing to his inattentive passengers. This was a nuance of beauty piercing through a cold Chicago night.
I love Chicago. I love the architecture. I love the grand things the tourists love. And I love the hidden gems only I and the city’s natives know about. But I couldn’t help but think that this nameless bus driver’s small gesture was a thing of beauty that only the 6 passengers could receive as a gift in that moment.
What a beautiful welcoming to a favorite city.
