I feel cultured today after my first trip to the Cincinnati Art Museum - actually my first time at any art museum. There is a Picasso exhibit at the museum right now, and I never realized the drastic differences from one of his pieces to the next. I guess the genius behind Picasso is that one painting is the most magnificent thing you could imagine and the next, if I drew it, you would even think it was terrible. I envied the talent of all the artists displayed there and their ability to imagine and create such vivid pictures and stories through their art.
It really got me thinking about the story I am telling and what I am creating.
My grandfather was an artist, a painter mostly, but he could also build anything you asked him too. How I wish I had his talent when it comes to art! I can't build either. Kate takes care of most of the handy work around our house.
I suppose writing is my art form, as that is where my creativity comes out (or at least I'd like to think so). I don't write enough, as evidenced by my lack of posts recently, which I think happens to many people like me, who are ambitious at first but let that fade away. If I don't write, I won't be any good at it, and I won't have an outlet to release many of my thoughts.
But more than that, as the reality sets in that my son will be born in less than two months, I am more concerned with the story my life is telling rather than my words. I am going to be entrusted with caring for and loving this child, and raising him to be a man who loves God and wants to serve him because he wants to and not because I told him to.
Don't get me wrong - I can't wait to play catch with him and watch him strike out and hit home runs and give him unsolicited fatherly advice. But it really is a lot of pressure, especially if I take an honest look at my life. I am far too concerned with myself right now, often spending too much time thinking about work or being upset that I can't do what I want to do because of this or that. I better get used to someone else dictating my schedule though. I have always wanted to be a dad and I can't wait until my boy is born, but I have a lot of work to do before that happens.
By the way, Kate and I really enjoyed the paintings of Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. I encourage you to Google image his stuff and find something that tells you a story, then take some time to think about how you express yourself. What is your art? What are you creating?
I have recently been thinking a lot about my story, and what it is telling. (Thanks to Donald Miller) I also love to write, Opher is not much of a visual artist... When writing stories, I create the characters, they do what I want them to do, I nurture the protagonist, allow him to learn and grow through conflict but always nurture him in the end. Beautiful analogy to what God does for us. He is our author, we are his protagonist.
ReplyDeleteThis is all something I've been thinking a lot about too. I know what kind of life I I want to create for my family, but then I look at my actions sometimes and i wonder how my visions are going to magically happen without my behavior lining up. It's true- you don't get better at the creating (anything- art, writing, a loving home) without putting in the effort. The one good thing I can tell you is you don't need to bother too much with becoming unselfish now. No matter how much you prep for the baby to take over, you can't possibly imagine how they'll change your daily life. I say stay your course now and take advantage of every second of freedom you have with Kate. The baby will force you to give (and give and give) and you will naturally rise to the challenge...and create something beautiful together.
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