A little boy in the pew in front of me on Sunday studied something behind me. Then he knelt at the pew and drew a couple of seconds. He stood again--he was no higher than the back of the pew--and studied. He studied more than he drew. I couldn't see his work, but I knew.
This was an artist.
Soon, his mother, probably afraid he was distracting other worshipers, told him to sit down.
"But I need to see that," he whispered. He didn't whine. This was a matter of fact.
She shushed him and sat him down. I was tempted to tell her that he needed to draw what he saw and that he needed to see what he wanted to draw. I wanted to tell her that this is how he understands God.
I'm not saying that artists are more important than other worshipers. I'm not saying that artists should find an identity in art rather than in God. I'm not arguing for free-reign to do whatever we want because, after all, we're artists.
But all people need freedom, guided by Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and the universal church, as they approach God.
Psst--If you find this post interesting and think others might as well, would you mind taking a minute to stumble it? It would mean a lot to me.
He is a little Asher Lev, isn't he?
Great post, Heather.
This is my all time favorite post. I love this.
"He studied more than he drew."
I am so not an artist, but your posts have helped me understand artists more (which is good because I'm surrounded by them). My HS daughter is taking a digital art class. The art department at her school requires weekly hand sketches, regardless of the course, and she spends hours on them. Really. I'm somewhat amused by the amount of time that goes into her art classes (while at other times I'm annoyed!). But now I think I realize part of what takes so long... she is studying more than she draws.
I realized one day that I write all the time, even when I'm not writing. Now, to be honest, sometimes this becomes an excuse (there's a certain fear about putting words to page, and this fear sometimes drives procrastination), but more than that, it's "study." It's turning the words and story over in my head again and again. It's spending time with my character. I think that's what this little boy was doing. He was looking at what he wanted to draw, getting to know it, turning it over in his head.
Your daughter is lucky to have an understanding and encouraging mom. I had the same in my parents and do in my husband.
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