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Maybe the Arts Can Save Us
“To practice any art, no matter how well or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. So do it.” – Kurt Vonnegut
“Everybody born comes from the Creator trailing wisps of glory. We come from the Creator with creativity. I think that each one of us is born with creativity.” – Maya Angelou
In times of great distress or upheaval, it seems that the arts—poetry, music, dance, painting, photography, literature, and so on—offer us profound wisdom for the ages. A poem about feathered hope, or a lifeless image of a small child washed ashore in a foreign land, or a song about amazing grace can touch our hearts. Over a lifetime, artistic works help to shape our shared values.
Artists ask questions that matter:
How do we stop hatred, violence, and war?
How do we learn to live in harmony?
How do we learn to love one another?
How do we take care of our beautiful Earth home?
How do we live with purpose and meaning while we are here?
Artists are our teachers. They show us how to think outside our perceived limits and beyond our cultural conditioning. They question authority. They seek out patterns. They break down barriers. They add beauty, healing, and delight to the planet. They share their gifts with others, even when forged through intense personal suffering. They alter existing paradigms. They demonstrate the pure joy of creative self-expression. They teach us skills—such as compassion and empathy—that are necessary to our very survival.
Ultimately, artists show us what freedom looks like.
And sometimes, when angry, artists reveal how to resist when the world is unjust. And how to love, in spite of cruelty. And how to change hearts that have truly lost their way.
Here’s the good news: We are all creative! We may not all express our creativity in works of art, but our thoughts, our words, our actions, and our lives are created by us . . . each day and each moment.
Listen to the deep longing of your soul.
What are you called to create in this time and in this place?
As American author Kurt Vonnegut said, “Do it!” The world greatly benefits from creative pursuits that are fueled by our dreams of a better tomorrow.
Peace & Love,
Diana Ensign
Thank you Diana! Yes, we can all be artists!
Yes, we are all creative and creators … and artists of our world and our lives. 🙂
Hey Diana, this post is challenging for me…I do not see myself as an artist but as one who appreciates and celebrates what artists can do, how they can inspire us, how they can heal us…so yes, let’s acknowledge the grace of God’s healing that comes from the many forms of art…may they continue to be inspired in how the Holy Spirit can move their creations…love to you!
Thanks Charlie,
Art supporters are also crucial. We need the people who attend plays, concerts, book readings, exhibits, and all forms of creative expression! Hopefully, we’ll see more community engagement with the arts in the coming months and years. (You’ve greatly supported me just by purchasing my books —so thank you!!)