Creating into Change

Emergent Voyageurs has a really good discussion every Friday dealing with art. This week is no different and is one that I am always questioning myself about.  Should we, as Christians, even participate in art when there are so many more vitally important things going on in the world that needs to be done? As an artist and musician, I have battled with this in both spiritual and professional terms.

Its In the Genes

Music and art has been in my family's genes for a number of generations. My mom is even an accomplished professional artist and I at one point was about to attend either the Ringling School of Art here in the Tampa area or Berklee College of Music in Boston, but couldn't convince myself that either was a worthy career endeavor. In art, you are creating a piece of work that can be hung on the wall like a poster and as a musician you can write a song that can be played through someone's iPod, but neither one will directly affect and change the world in itself. This wasn't suitable enough for me. I want to be able to know that when I die, the world has been changed for the better. Therefore, I decided the best way would be to go into "Church Ministry".

The Drive Inside

Perhaps it might just be the creative gift in me, but I have always felt like God was trying to convince me that I do need to go into a more artistic endeavor. I have always listened to a piece of music or admired a piece of art and always thought that I could've made something similar to it. It drove me crazy and a lot of times I withdrew into depression because inside I really wanted to be creating, but did not feel like it was a worthy enough calling. This was until one day in the past year, when I began to watch other people listening to music. They were so passionate about it that they felt as if the music was telling their life story. A new day formed in my life and I realized that I truly had never listened to or admired a piece of art at all.

The Truth is Different

For the past year, I have began to really allow myself to become vulnerable and enjoy art for its message. Previously, I took a piece and dissected it as a critic digging through another man's work. Without any heart or desire to really hear what's being said, I wanted to know the talent behind it. Thankfully, I'm in a minority about viewing art in this way. Billions of people are changed by art everyday. Not only was I wrong that art doesn't change the world but I was oblivious to the fact that art is one of the largest catalysts for change. The painting on the wall of a large oak tree standing lonely in a dark field could be a window into the souls of many. The poetry sitting quietly behind a large arrangement of guitars and drums could be the movement in your blood. These words laying gently on my screen could be the shoes upon my feet.