Just whistle while you

I'm sitting here in the office just listening to a random shuffle of our music library through iTunes (shouldn't I get some sort of kick-back from Apple for that plug?) and I started thinking about music and the effects of music in my life.

Music is subtle enough to communicate a message with or without words. It can be the life of a party and can comfort a person in need. What best personifies the power of music in my mind is when someone has given me a compilation of songs made solely for me. My memories seem to play accompaniment to each song no matter when I hear them.

Music sets the atmosphere of so many situations in my life. Thelonius Monk provides the backdrop for reading at a coffee shop. The Beastie Boys get me through those last ten minutes of a grueling eleven minute jog. Zero 7 while driving slowly with the windows down. Jack Johnson and Ben Folds keep the office atmosphere alive. The Gorillaz and Daft Punk when I'm feeling eclectically funkdafied (that's right, you heard me). The Amelie soundtrack for virtually any occasion.

Over the past five years of my life I've come to appreciate music in a completely new and different way, as a means of expression and worship to God. Growing up in the church we sang hymns which firmly grounded and strengthened my faith. Hymns which were more about the church reassuring each other of God's goodness but, I'm speaking of a different aspect of worship. I'm speaking of giving God the praise He alone is worthy to receive. Singing to the Lord as if He were seated right in front of me. In the Bible, David wrote many of the psalms we sing in church today to call God's faithful into worship and this continues even still today.

Music is now a way I can draw myself closer to the Lord at any time of the day. It causes me to stop looking for answers within myself and turn my attention towards God and what was accomplished on the cross through Christ Jesus.

A glimpse of a journey

(The following is a short article that I wrote for LYDIA Living, the Greek women's magazine for which I briefly worked when I lived in Athens. It actually was published as the Ek Vatheon, or the inspirational last page meant to leave the reader with hope or encouragement. I have changed the conclusion slightly so it makes sense here and now. Anyway, perhaps it will leave you with hope or encouragement. If nothing else, it should show you a glimpse of my journey... )

When I was little, I remember aspiring to many high positions and accomplishments. The first time I watched the Olympics, I decided that I wanted to become a gold-medal gymnast. I wanted to be as graceful as Nadia Comaneche and as dynamic as Mary Lou Retton. My parents took me to gymnastics lessons and bought me a leotard. Unfortunately, I was too tall and too clumsy to see my dreams come true.

When that dream faded, I focused on piano lessons, hoping music would be the talent that would bring me success and recognition. Just as I didn't have the grace to be a beautiful gymnast, neither did I have the rhythm to play a beautiful song. After throwing myself wholeheartedly into a few more sports, a few more instruments, and several other activities, I realized that that were many things that I wasn't talented at but I also found that there was at least one thing that I could do well: I could write. So instead of being a gymnast, I wrote about gymnastics and other things that interested me. And as I wrote, I discovered that I loved using words as an outlet for my opinion and imagination.

But just as I had wanted to be a gold-medal gymnast and a renowned musician, my childhood aspirations for my writing were for fame and fortune. I dreamed of growing up and writing books that sold millions of copies. Surely what I had to say was so original and clever that everyone would want to read it. Oh! If only one of my novels would be so popular that it would be made into a movie!

Fortunately, my dreams have matured over time. When I was young, all my hopes rested on becoming a famous writer. Today, I don't necessarily want to be a famous writer; I only want to be a good writer - one who can be proud of what she puts on paper because it is an expression of beauty and truth. While childhood is rich with imagination and hope, it often is also shortsighted and self-focused. Growing up brings breadth and width and depth. In the process of maturing, dreams either fade away, or are transformed into destiny.

Everyone has dreams. All children want to be movie stars. But destiny is deeper and wider and higher than a simple dream. In my life, I find destiny at the points where my talents and passions intersect. When I was ten, I wasn't skilled in gymnastics, so I wrote about it instead. Today, my passions are directed at women's issues and human rights. It is impossible to single-handedly bring justice and equality to humanity, but I can effect change by using my talents in my sphere of influence. And, God willing, I will.

Inward & Outward Art

Lately I've just been trying to write honest poetry. It's all been about things that happened to me in my twenties. Poetry about my divorce; experience with sex, drugs, and rock and roll; and so on. Sometimes I feel somewhat divided, but that is ok. Maybe I should explain. Here are some of the things I've been contemplating.

As you all know, I have a desire to serve God with my writing, and I also believe that art is a spiritual gift according to our Christian faith. That is why I think it's important to try to write devotionals for the church, or poetry for other Christian web sites. One thing that should be hammered out is that some art is from God, and other art is of God. Here is where I believe there should be a dividing line. Art can be other things besides a spiritual gift.It can be a self- expressive or irreverent painting. This kind of art is of God.

Scripture is very clear that the Lord created all things. He created human beings with artistic abilities whether or not those individuals recognize him as Lord or not. When we look at I Corinthians 12:1-6, it speaks of spiritual gifts and how they can only be from "one spirit" and how they will only encourage and help build up the church body. I once saw a graphic painting of satan killing children. This is a perfect example of how art can not be edifying to the church body. Again this kind of art is only of God meaning that he created the person expressing this painting. Now art can be from God--this is where spiritual gifts come into play. The first part of Romans 12 speaks of how there are many kinds of gifts given to serve the body of Christ. In our church, when someone receives a prophetic vision, that is a gift from God. I believe that God can put something on are heart for us to express artistically. When that happens that is from God. I know it's semantics but I do believe there is a difference.

I feel that there are lines to be drawn with my creative writing. Some poems would make great devotionals of the Christian faith. This is what I call Inward Art, meaning art that can be brought into the church and used for the kingdom of God. Other poems are just self expressions and have no place in the church. Sometimes I even use curse words, nothing to major just simple things like "truth be damned." I think that this is ok because with those poems I'm speaking to another kind of audience. I'm just trying to be genuine to whom I am. This is what I call Outward Art that is not to be used in a church setting. I don't know maybe I think to much. I'm not at all saying all churches should take on this philosophy maybe its more of a personal belief. I guess I would rather be an artist as an occupation. Having said that I definatly don't see myself going to the church asking for a job and I guess I shouldn't. For me It's better to be an occupational artist who likes to give to the church whenever possible. So there you have it. That's my flavor!

Encouragement

So, here I am a "contributor" to this blog site and co-leader of a group called creativity encouraged and I have a something to admit.

I dont have a specific artistic talent. Im not an artist, definitely not a writer, cant read music, and have absolutely no rhythm for dancing.

That being said I still consider myself a creative person. I am created in the image of God. He is the ultimate creator. Everything I see that I think is beautiful from a piece of art from an artist I admire, to a heap of rubble from a building being demolished; God had a hand in that. Not only did He create it, but He gives me the ability to see the beauty in it.

Ive tried several different outlets for my creativity: photography, painting, sculpture, architecture. I've found them either lacking in creativity (architecture) or myself lacking in talent (all the rest.) That doesnt mean Ive given up on them, I believe God has plans for these gifts He has given me. I dont know what these plans are, but thats another reason for this site, and our group. We not only encourage each other to take up lost gifts but to find new outlets for them. Its all about using the gifts God has given us to bring Him glory.

So, I will keep acknowledging his beauty everywhere. I will continue searching for the purpose to the gifts he has given me. I will encourage others in their gifts and look for encouragement back from them. And maybe I'll go out with my camera this weekend, just for fun.