Move over, Michelangelo

In our Wednesday night children's worship time, we are discussing the names of God. The kids have been drawing pictures showing the names of God, and the symbolism that goes with them. One of my favorite drawings was done by a boy named Daniel:

I asked Daniel to explain his drawing to me. He told me that one arm was God's, the other was man's, and their hands are touching. I asked what the shiny gold part was, and Daniel couldn't explain that part as easily. He said it is what happens when the two hands touch.

As soon as I saw Daniel's picture, it reminded me of another famous piece of art. This one, of course, painted a few hundred years ago on the ceiling of a church:

Perhaps the most fascinating part of this painting is that Adam (on the left) is so lackadaisical about reaching toward his Creator, while the entire body of God is stretched as far as it can go. Well done, Mr. Michelangelo.

Maybe I'm influenced by the five-month sermon series of Revelation that our church is finishing up, but I like to think of this painting and Daniel's drawing as a before-and-after sort of thing. Imagine the shiny golden glory that will occur when God finally obliterates that space between his hand and ours. Our pastor told us this morning that many scholars find it difficult to distinguish when John, in Revelation 21, is writing about believers and when he is writing about the New Jerusalem itself. It seems that, when God creates the new world, He, the saints, and the City will all be united perfectly.

That's a lot of shiny-golden-goodness. Looking forward to it.

A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I did nothing creative today. I have to say it is a rare day when I don't do something creative. Sometimes it's music, sometimes I make an artistic project (I include coloring maps in this category), occasionally I'll read a poem or some fiction. I don't normally engage in a BIG creative endeavor, but I usually do something artistic or imaginative during the day.

We are created in the image of God, who is THE Creator. The ability to create, and appreciate creation, is a big part of what sets us apart from the rest of nature. It's very important that we nurture that aspect of ourselves. Our society has made it WAY too easy to stay in a logic-filled, down-to-earth, here-and-now bubble, staying indoors with our computers and televisions.

Remember nature? Trees in bloom, hot sun, cool clouds, how rain can feel good instead of being a nuisance? Remember books? Those collections of other people's ideas and stories, printed with ink that you can smell on pages you can feel? Have you ever really listened to music that is new to you? If you begin to explore (especially in other cultures), you will find that the world of sound is endless. Have you ever perused an art gallery, or even flipped through an art book, and stopped to notice the details of a particular painting?

We need to continue finding new ways to stimulate our creative side (yes, we all have one). It's a crucial way to connect with our Lord, and to grow personally. I'm gonna do better tomorrow.

Christ in the Classics

I had the opportunity to perform in a wonderful concert this evening. Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco presented a program called Christ in the Classics. It featured a full choir and orchestra (with organ!) performing great works in the "classical" repertoire, including:

Various pieces by J.S. Bach

Selections from Handel's Messiah

"Gloria" from Vivaldi's Gloria

Mendelssohn

Gounod

Fauré

Between the musical selections, there was a narration of Jesus' life from the scriptures, along with works of art projected onto the big screens. The art included works by:

Joachim Patenier (The Baptism of Christ)

Giotto di Bodone (Christ Entering Jerusalem)

Peter Paul Reubens (Christ on the Cross)

Rembrandt van Rijn (The Ascension)

Other artists included:

Michelangelo

Flinck

Grünewald

da Vinci

This was seriously one of the best programs in which I've ever participated. It was a fantastic way for a lover of the arts to contemplate the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and I think the less dorky folks really appreciated it too. Heather enjoyed it a great deal, and was sad she didn't sing in the choir. I wish you all could have been there!