All The Beautiful Things: Why Lilias Trotter’s Story Speaks to Us

Choosing beauty where it isn't always obvious is almost completely what takes up my artist brain. In every setting I enter, in every story I hear, finding the beauty and turning it into art consumes me. When a couple of us with Empower and Shine first learned about Lilias Trotter, it felt like we were learning about ourselves in a past life, in a past century. Some stories stay with us not because they are loud or dramatic, but because they are quietly brave.

Lilias Trotter’s life is one of those stories.

An artist of extraordinary talent, Lilias was once told that she could either pursue art at the highest level or choose a different path of service, but not both. Instead of chasing recognition, she chose a life of presence, creativity, and care for others in places where beauty was often overlooked.

Her story, told in the documentary All the Beautiful Things and the book A Blossom in the Desert, resonates deeply with us at Empower and Shine because of what it teaches about seeing others and the world, slowing down, and living intentionally in love.

Art as a Way of Seeing

Lilias believed that art was about attention. She painted what she noticed: light, color, everyday moments especially in environments others might have dismissed as barren or broken.

One of her reflections that spoke to me:

“You are not responsible for the task. You are responsible for the tone.”

This idea aligns beautifully with our work. Empowerment doesn’t always come from fixing what’s wrong it often comes from how we show up, the care we bring, and the way we choose to see others. It comes from giving a hand up, not a hand out.

Choosing Presence Over Pressure

In a world that celebrates speed and success, Lilias chose something radical: to stay. To be present. To give her time and creativity where it was needed, not where it would be most applauded.

Her life reminds us that worth isn’t measured by visibility. Some of the most meaningful work happens quietly, through consistency, compassion, and small acts of love.

As she once wrote:

“The greatest things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”

This mirrors our belief at Empower and Shine that change doesn’t have to be dramatic to be powerful.

Blossoms in Unexpected Places

Lilias saw possibility where others saw emptiness. She believed that beauty could bloom even in harsh conditions, if someone was willing to notice and nurture it.

That belief sits at the heart of our mission.

We strive to see the strength in everyday people, to uplift those who feel invisible, and to remind others that light exists, even when circumstances are heavy. Like Lilias, we believe that presence, creativity, and kindness can transform spaces and lives.

Why This Story Matters to Us

Lilias Trotter’s life invites us to ask:

• Where am I being called to slow down?

• Where might beauty already exist, waiting to be seen?

• What would it look like to choose love over recognition?

At Empower and Shine, we believe that when we choose to see beauty, we help create it. When we offer presence instead of pressure, we make room for healing. And when we honor the quiet work, we participate in something lasting.

"Take the very hardest thing in your life - the place of difficulty, outward or inward, and expect God to triumph gloriously in that very spot. Just there He can bring your soul into blossom." ~ Lilias Trotter

A blossom in the desert is possible and sometimes, it starts with simply noticing the light.