Each month as I flip the page over on my calendar, I am treated to an image of astonishing inner beauty. The calendar creator is Steven N. Meyers, photographer and MRI technician. Pictured here,a magnolia takes on an almost other worldly aura. Myers explains, “By using x-rays instead of light, an unusual inner vision is revealed, and Nature shows us textures, details, and shadows that would otherwise not be seen.”

There is no special camera or x-ray machine that can scan and record the details, textures and shadows of our own inner beauty. It takes a thoughtful, perceptive human being with a big heart to have that kind of x-ray vision. Can you guess who fits that description? Can’t you almost hear him singing the old Billy Joel song ”I love you just the way you are.” He treats us, all of us, not only with kindness but with sincere affection. There is a lovely quote by Martin Buxbaum about growing older: “Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts.” I think David sees his fans in this way. He senses their hearts and he responds to who they have become.

This is a rare quality especially in young man not quite 19 years of age. We are hot wired as a teenager to be aware of physical beauty…who has it and who doesn’t plays a big part in our path to maturity. David is human and it would be impossible for him not to notice his young and sometimes very lovely fans. But he chooses not to limit himself by focusing just on those fans. He tries to keep his heart open to all of us. David doesn’t need to discover the truth of inner beauty, he seems to instinctively already know it. It takes a very enlightened person to see past the obvious and to be able to appreciate who we are inside as well as who we are on the outside.

David Archuleta’s fans come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Some of us are even physically ill and we may not feel like we look our best. But some of the most touching and expressive photos taken with David are with fans dealing with a physical challenge. It is in those moments that we have an opportunity to see beyond David’s good looks and see into his beautiful soul. His inner beauty shines bright and inspires us to take a fresh look at the world. David Archuleta’s genuine acceptance of all of his fans is a bridge that links us all to one another. We may look different, speak varied languages, and be decades apart in age, but because David sees us as equals, we can relax and not feel self conscious with one another.

Like the lovely unique flower images that Steven N Meyers produces, we too can create our own beautiful inner garden. What we can do is plant the seeds of compassion, patience, wisdom and generosity in our hearts .
“Cultivate the habit of taking time every day to sit in the middle of your soul so you can be in conscious contact with the beauty of your inner garden.” Lucy MacDonald