« green eggs and ham | Main | willik cracks me up... »
February 07, 2006
service versus appreciation
God gave me a wonderful talent. Artistic talent. I'm blessed with the creative gene, and I like to use it.Lately though, I am very much frustrated and confused about how best to put that talent to good use.
What I do most lately is design, though my first love is drawing and painting.
For a long time, I've thought of myself as having surrendered all these artistic and creative talents over to the Lord. I've tried to use them to highlight events at my church, and at my parents church. I've made painting with a message, I've designed flyers, taught kids art classes, taken photos, and designed websites, all for church or christian organizations. All for little or no money. All because I wanted to use my talents for God. Or at least that seemed like the reason, anyway.
But lately, I've been having some pretty frustrating experiences, when it comes to using these talents, and geting the response I need, or rather, the response I want.
I would love to spell it all out, but I'm not trying to hurt anyone, or gossip, or mess up any relationships. I'm just trying to figure out how to proceed.
More and more, I've felt under-appreciated. I've felt like people don't get the importance of visually compelling things in order to reach others. I've felt like art, or the art stuff I'm trying to share is not considered a very pressing or important matter, and so, it makes me not want to do it for christians, or for church. It makes me just want to do it for money, because it seems like, when it's paid for, value is given.
But here's the catch.... If I'm sharing these talents as surrendered to God, why should I feel unappreciated? If I'm really wanting to give of myself, and I see a need that needs to be filled with quality work, why do I care if others regard it as important or not? If I can send a message, through my art, why does it matter if the response is quick or not?
These are the things on my mind today. This is what I struggle with lately.
How do I balance working with people, (since visual art, commercial art, needs other people's input, in order to evolve) and still make an offering, as unto God?
Can the 2 things be separate? Can they be together?
Should I be looking for appreciation from anyone? Is it wrong? Is it possible to continue to create without, or despite people's opinion?
I could ramble on forever. What are your thoughts. I really want to know!
Posted by glassgirl at February 7, 2006 11:14 PM
Responses
"I've felt like art, or the art stuff I'm trying to share is not considered a very pressing or important matter, and so, it makes me not want to do it for christians, or for church."
Maybe you should just create art for it's own sake. If you do it from within, then it is for God.
Posted by: Abuelo Mir at February 8, 2006 02:22 PM
Glau
You can be a blessing anywhere you work, making money or not. Whatever you do, do it for the Lord and you will feel the return and the peace that only God can give. He gave you the talent. Use it always for His glory.
Love,
MOM
Posted by: Mom at February 12, 2006 06:02 PM
Let your life be your art, and let your heart and hands be the instruments with which you express your life's purpose. There is no room for ego-driven desires for appreciation or accolades in true artistic expression. Money and fame ruin true inspiration. Your connection to your God will grow as you release the trappings of the materialistic world and just do what you are here to do. And call your old art teacher, would ya?
Posted by: rg at February 26, 2006 01:06 AM