All That Fades Is Beautiful

All That Fades Is Beautiful
Rev. Timothy Warren
St. Francis ISM

I’m currently watching Love in the Big City, a coming-of-age melodrama that follows Go Young as he navigates love and life in Seoul. The series is based on the novel of the same name by Sang Young Park, who also wrote the screenplay. It stars Nam Yoon-su, Lee Soo-kyung, Oh Hyun-kyung, Kwon Hyuk, Na Hyun-woo, Jin Ho-eun, and Kim Won-joong. In this 2024 TV series, Go Young has a complicated relationship with his religious mother, who has never fully accepted his queerness. The mother is battling cancer for the second time.

In one poignant scene, Go Young takes his mother to a city park in Seoul to enjoy the autumn afternoon sun. As they sit on a hillside overlooking the fall trees ablaze with color, his mother wistfully remarks, “Everything that fades is beautiful.”

This line struck me deeply. As I age, I too see myself fade. Youthful looks, physical strength, and vitality gradually diminish, and I find myself reflecting on the days of my youth and early adulthood. Friends and parents begin to pass away, relationships end, and I often spend more time alone than before.

In retirement, I sometimes feel irrelevant in a world that moves quickly, favoring youth and energy over age and experience.

Yet, when I look closer, I see how the things that fade from our lives are replaced by new forms of beauty. We may have fewer friends, but those we have are closer, the friendships more meaningful. Our parents may no longer be with us, but we sometimes step into roles as mentors and guides for others. Relationships may end, leaving us alone, but in our solitude, we can discover a sacred space to reflect on the temporal nature of life and the divine presence within all humanity.

With age comes a deeper appreciation for quality over quantity, character over worldly success, and generosity over accumulating wealth. We often seek simplicity rather than the hustle of being at the center of the crowd. Our tolerance for drama fades, replaced by a desire for stability, peace, and a more contemplative life. Relevance in the eyes of the world gives way to the pursuit of wisdom.

Like the line that caught my attention says, “Everything that fades is beautiful.” All living things have an expiration date, yet the miracle of life continues. My hope is not found solely in heaven but in each day I am granted to live. It is my choice to see the beauty in what fades and to look forward to the beauty yet to come. Letting go of temporal things opens the door to experiencing peace and joy in life.

Life moves in cycles, marked by beginnings and endings, yet it is also eternal. God, who is the source of all being, allows us to reflect that divine light. This prayer for us: May we embrace the beauty in all that fades as we grow in grace and wisdom with age. And as we fade, may the light of God shine ever brighter through us. Amen