Several years ago, I awoke in the middle of the night worried by the uncertainties in my life… Am I doing what I’m supposed to do? Am I where I’m supposed to be? Am I doing life the right way? Are my motives right? I decided to go into another room so I could pray out loud and journal my thoughts with God. After forty minutes of mumbling and stumbling my way into the issues of my heart, God answered me with one sentence – “Live like an artist”.
I pondered and journaled what that meant. I believe that living like an artist means to create (to bring into form) that which is on your heart for the pure joy and curiosity of its potential beauty and benefit. I realized that there were moments throughout my life when I lived that way, especially when I was younger – drawing, building, doing gymnastics. Pablo Picasso wrote, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
I realized that God was telling me to “live” differently, not just “do” differently. For the most part, even though I was engaged in doing what I loved, my motivation had become contaminated by concerns about interest and income, acceptance and appreciation. Living the “way of an artist” would mean I would create and offer simply because I am compelled to create and love to offer what God has given me. “Art is not a thing” Elbert Hubbard wrote, “it is a way.” I understand more deeply now what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, “To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.” (Col 1:29)
To live as an artist is to allow whatever it is that “works so powerfully” in you – to come out. To refuse to let your glory (your particular splendor, brilliance, abundance) be defined, valued or constrained by others. To live as an artist means to develop your art through study, training and experience with whatever time and resources you have, because you love it – not because others are asking for it or you are getting paid for it. Terri Guillemets wrote, “Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul – and you answer.”
The term “art” comes from the Greek work “techně” which actually implies the mastery of any sort of craft. In Latin “art” is “ars” which means, skill or technique with the connotation of beauty. So art is something that you master to the point of beauty; be it photography, questions, music, organization, engaging, speech, colors, encouragement, structure, writing, conciliation, systems, envisioning or a thousand other things.
We are after all, God’s masterpiece – “For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.” Eph. 2:10 (ISV) We were created to be an artist, to create “good works”. This is why the Apostle Paul writes, “We pray…that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power. (2 Thess. 1:11) “Art is a collaboration between God and the artist…” said André Gide.
Seth Godin, in his recent book; Linchpin, said that serious artists distinguish between their art and the stuff they have to do when they’re not doing their art. This is a good fantasy buster – no one gets to do what they love all the time, no one gets to only do their art. There is our art, our “good works that God prepared long ago to be our way of life,” and there are the things which create and sustain the environment of our artistry, our good works. We can confuse these two things to the point of thinking that we love nothing, life is simply about obligation and duty and artistry is unattainable. To break through the “unattainable” barrier, Godin suggests we finish this “if only” statement: “I could find the time and energy to do my art if only….” Try this…really! It’s very revealing. The answer(s) to this question will help us to see the real issues at hand so that they can then be addressed.
One of the secrets of our artistry (our calling), is that we possess a surprising forbearance with the mundane tasks of life when we know that they are simply a means by which we enrich our artistry.
Your fellow artist,
Gary
I love the idea of the artist, to live a life of freedom and CREATIVITY!
I want to do that.
I can do that!
Gary,
Nice. I am living this right now.
I loved this blog Gary on so many levels, but mostly from the artist inside of me who loves to write. Your words and friendship have helped me to uncover this gift and given me the strength to push forward through the “if only”‘s. Thanks Gary!
Gary — It’s like you read my mind. This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about this week.
Our artistry gets contaminated by so many lesser issues: our need for validation…or income…or recognition. If those lesser motives lead us, our art gets colored, or dis-colored.
When our artistry becomes the servant of pragmatism, it becomes a slave to lesser things. God does not create primarily to fulfill a function, though that’s part of it: he creates because he loves… Because gets a kick out of it.
Your post is such helpful counsel, Gary.
Thank you, Gary. Been painting one brushstroke at a time and it can be taxing….Your blog adds courage and strength to my heart today! Blessings, Amanda
My first thought – or response to God – I seem always to make it so complicated. And with four simple words . . . “live like an artist…” I’m all calmed down and my creative imagination kicks into over drive. Like like an artist. How Christ like. Perfect.
Wow – I love it when something like this comes to my desk in exactly the right moment. This after I find myself pulled in two directions with the art in me reaching toward the future but the salaryman in me anxious about today.
I needed to be reminded today of how this life-of-the-heart thing works.
Thanks Gary.
Just last evening I was contemplating giving up a piece of artistic life I love. Because I am not encouraged in it, it feels easier to let go of it rather than pursue it. Your post reminded me of the communion with God I feel in it and that I do it for the love…nothing else. It is worth fighting for.
Also, I feel as if the was extremely well written. I’m impressed by that. Thank you
This is great Gary. Thanks for sharing it. This, coupled with your recent email, is really stirring up some deep stuff for me.
And your quote from Seth Godin is spot on. In fact, I met a friend for lunch just today who is a professional illustrator – his works are featured in all of the “Marley and Me” books – and he was sharing how he was on the phone all morning trying to sort out an insurance claim, and it was driving him bananas.
Thanks for the great ‘life words.’
Hi Gary,
I just wanted to say “Amen” to your last e-letter on living like an artist. Our God is a creative artist (In the beginning, God created…), and our drive to create is one of the ways we bear His image. This has become more real to me after being in school the last 10 years to finish my music degrees. But the mindset of an artist, as you have pointed out, encompasses our whole life. Thank you for your words.
Tim
Thanks, Gary.
Thanks for reminding me, once again, it’s not about doing, but living, all of life. It’s so good to get that encouragement to step back and take a deep breath. And realize that our art is more than just a certain thing we do. All of life is a dance. So we count it all joy when it’s stormy. Rather than “messing up” what we’re doing, it is an opportunity to let our glory shine even brighter.
I’m reminded of a movie I saw lately, “Man On Fire”, starring Denzel Washington (guys movie). There’s some good imagery in it, like letting beauty take a back seat, literally. But his art was as a warrior, and the worse things got and the more pressure he was under, the more he shined. At one point a guy who knew him well said that in his rescue of the beauty, beyond all odds against the enemy, he was “painting his masterpiece”.
I think there’s something about the duress of the War we are in that makes the art of our life even more glorious. We only have so much time in this War to create our masterpiece! Let us run well!
Tom, I’m with you. I loved Man On Fire and I was hit by that scene as well.
Gary,
““Art is not a thing” Elbert Hubbard wrote, “it is a way.” I understand more deeply now what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, “To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.” (Col 1:29)
Learning at a heart level of whose and who we are so unpacks the hidden world of the Life-Truth and the Way he loves us, it’s pure poetry in motion…as if if Father says to the world, “Do you want to see my glory, then here, look at my sons and daughters” there dripping wet with it!
Rich
TOG, Just discovered your blog while building my own. The artist concept captured me. I turn 70 next week while on a five day hike near Moab with soninlaw and “our” 12.5 year old; one of the ventures on his “year of passage.” I’m making my own discoveries, and The Artist/Creator is at the center. Your piece helped take me there.
It’s not the next in the sequence after the aviation warrior, the missionary, or the rancher, it’s been there all along. Some fruit takes time to ripen.
Finally writing a book (didn’t know I was a writing major in college, did you?), and building a social media and blogging life may sound very UN-artistic, but considering it’s such a steep climb for my generation, it has been a reflection of my calling: mentoring. Thus the book about my generation of dads mentoring the current generation struggling to manage, usually alone, the challenges of fathering the current tribe of kids.
Yeah, doesn’t sound very artsy…but it is the ultimate touch from the Master’s pallet to paint lives on a blank canvas; not alone but alongside other dads and The Artist Himself. Think, “Artist coop”. “Artists together on a five day manhood muscle-hike working on a 12.5 year old canvas. Can you picture it!?