Foolish, Weak and Lowly

For Kris & Alethia - whose consecrated love inspired me 

An accomplished artist once laughed at me when I told him I wanted to paint hearts.  Then he hung his head, put his face in his hands and just shook his head from side-to-side.  It was obvious that he thought my idea was ridiculous.....not worthy to be called art.  

Then I shared one of my ideas with him.....not a cutesy idea.....but a symbolically spiritual and biblical one.  I remember the look he wore on his face after hearing me out.  I sensed he was taken aback.  Then in all seriousness and with new resolve, he looked me in the eyes and stated, "Okay, if you're going to paint hearts .....then paint hearts and hearts and hearts!"  He proceeded to share a few ideas.....which I took to heart.

 

Ephesians 5 - Wives & Husbands

Someone very intelligent once told me that artists don't write about their own work.  Very knowingly, she persuaded me to buy a mini tape-recorder, so I could speak my thoughts about my work rather than write them down. That way, someone skillful could script my thoughts into written words for me.  

Although deep down I believed I could write for myself, because I had often penned beautiful blessings to people I wanted to encourage, I heeded the counsel of this advice-giving woman and bought the little tape recorder just as she had suggested.  But.....when I turned it on to speak.....I couldn't say a thing!  Not a thing!  So.....I began writing and writing and writing.....about my own art.

"Love is Meant to Grow" - Set 3***

 In both of these situations I found myself stifled, I found myself misdirected and I found myself looked down upon as foolish, weak, and lowly.  Initially I agreed that I was not enough, but then I found myself.....in HIM.....putty in the Potter's hands!

1 Corinthians 13 - "The Love Chapter"

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."

1 Corinthians 1:27-29

  It's easy to doubt our self-worth when we compare ourselves to someone who seems smarter, stronger, or superior.  Sometimes, I look at my hearts and think that maybe they're just cutesy and cliche.....and not really art.  But then I ask, "Does it really matter?"  Whatever label my creativity is given, if God can use it for His glory, then a label doesn't matter.  What does matter is why I do what I do and Who I am doing it for.  The important thing really is.....a matter of the heart!  

".....the greatest of these is love."

A cartoon character from a children's book once inspired me.....to overcome the fear of failure.....to take a pass on perfectionism.....and to just give what I've got.  In a short but sweet and simple picture book, entitled The Dot, Peter Reynolds tells the tale of a little girl who assumed she had no artistic abilities whatsoever.  The only mark she dared to put on her piece of paper was a dot!  Trusting then, that she could do better, she began painting and painting and painting.....a whole series of dots!  In the process, her enthusiasm grew, as did her joy and confidence!  By the end of this tale, the little artist was encouraging another beginner, one who was afraid to make his mark!  The Dot encouraged me to give what I've got, do what I can do, and enjoy the success of little things....not just in art.....but in life.

I have learned that I don't need to be better than someone else.  I don't need fame or fortune.  I don't need to be afraid of failure, and I don't need to be perfect.  In fact, even if I am looked upon as foolish, weak and lowly.....it's OK.....because in the hands of my Maker, my little is much! 

"The Dot" - See it, hear it, watch it, in this short and sweet, animated video!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5mGeR4AQdM

Set 1

"Love is Meant to Grow" has become my version of "The Dot."  I didn't set out to create a series, it just evolved as I experimented with variations.....like the little girl in "The Dot".....and I suspect there may be more to come.  

Love is Meant to Grow - Set 2**

Following "Love is Meant to Grow"  - Set 1*, I painted a very colorful version, Set 2**, planning to give it to a special young couple who exemplified the heart of the message I purposed to convey in this series. However, when I was done, I sensed that the bright colors weren't really wasn't suited to their taste, so I started over again with something much more fitting. 

"Love is Meant to Grow" - Set 3*** is my third take on this series. So far, it is my favorite and most meaningful, because this time around I chose Bible passages, that focus on love, as the background for the hearts. Set 3*** is the set I gave my young friends as a wedding gift.

To read the message behind "Love is Meant to Grow" go to:  http://kimsheartstrings.blogspot.com/2014/09/love-is-meant-to-grow.html

You can check out my young bride-friend's beautiful and inspirational blog at:  
http://alethialov.tumblr.com/tagged/personal