Where art Art...?

I had a thought last semester. Or came to a conclusion. Whatever it was, it has to do with art in the world today and what people actually define beauty as nowadays.

Art used to reflect God.

Somewhere around the bend, though, art became about expressing ourselves. Just us, nobody else. We took our own perspective of everything. Yep. We pretty took matters into our own hands.

But if that's the case...

It's no wonder tour art now is puzzling and arcane; that it's difficult to make sense of and we can't quite figure out what it means. It's no wonder that it's abstract to the point of indiscernible. We've lost the lens to see it.

It's the same with everything in our culture if you think about it. If art reflects a culture, what does today's art say? Abstract? Trying to say something but can't quite say it? Messy? Shattered? Broken? Lost?

You can see it in our advertisements. You can hear it in our music. You can watch it on tv, in the movie theaters, on your computers. I'm not saying all this art is completely lacking, but a lot of it is.
You can even see it on people...and unfortunately, the terrible lack of. Is it any wonder, then, that people no longer immediately see a woman's true beauty?

There's beauty there, there really is! But like a camera without focus or with someone without glasses, it's blurred.

Art used to reflect God.




When we used to see Him in us - because we're made in His image and likeness - and acknowledge His hand in creation, we reflected Him in our art, and it showed true beauty...
Because He is True Beauty. Art loses its beauty when it abandons the Author of beauty itself.
We may be made in the image and likeness of God, but we are most definitely NOT God.

I kind of wonder if anyone will ever come to the same conclusion.

Joy to the World!

There's a little game I like to play. Actually, I have quite a few little games that I play, like beat the GPA or Be a Ninja... But anyway, this particular one gives me an opportunity to be especially sneaky!
You know those poor people checking your items out at the store? They are so much fun to compliment. And they NEVER expect it. No, really, try it! Muster up your best smile and wish them a good day. Half the time they don't know what to do with it; but the other half, oh my, you can tell they really appreciate it. Now, of course, like all other games there's a catch. Here's the trick: your compliment has to be genuine. Ah ha. Didn't see that one coming? It doesn't quite work if you are not genuinely genuine to the other person. (Yes, cashier people are persons, even if they are the grumpiest people sometimes) But if you do manage to do this, congrats, chances are you have just begun a domino effect that could bring just a touch of happiness to someone who needs it most.
(Grumpy librarians are the best. It may take a while, but if you happen to have four cute little siblings, watching a grumpy librarian melt is so much fun.)

(Now for the main point:)
There's a special twist to this game come Christmas. You know how everyone says "happy holidays" or "season's greetings"? Well. Try giving them your biggest, most festive holiday grin and saying "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
Honestly, I think people still really do enjoy being wished a Merry Christmas; even if they aren't Christian, they still do. Because it's not that you're trying to convert them right then and there, or being offensive, or whatever the excuse is now to get Christ out of Christmas. It's spreading the love joy that you've found in Him who came to give you that same love and joy. If they're atheist, alright, be respectful. But even atheists need peace and joy. And really, sharing wonder and joy is not a crime. You take that special love and joy away, what do you get? Probably a grumpy cashier lady.
Christmas is a chance to spread that message of peace, joy, and love of Christ, even if it's just in the form of genuinely wishing someone "Merry Christmas".

So to anyone reading this (and even if no one does), I wish you glad tidings of joy; the joy I've genuinely found so wondrous and uncontainable. Take it if you will.

Lovely to Love in spite of this...

“Nothing else really matters,” she said to herself, “only to love Him and to do what He tells me. I don’t know quite why it should be so, but it is. All the time it is suffering to love and sorrow to love, but it is lovely to love Him in spite of this, and if I should cease to do so, I should cease to exist.” 
~Hurnard, Hinds Feet on High Places, 176