“Living well [the Christian life] is both a discipline and an art,” wrote Sarah Young [1] .
The discipline-part was easy enough to affirm. From experience I know: spiritual practices do enhance the joy of relationship with my Heavenly Father—behaviors like Bible study, prayer, worship, giving, and more.
But what might the art of Christian living look like? For me that was more difficult to qualify.
I turned my thoughts to artists themselves. What actions impel them toward creating art that produces beauty and meaning, and pleases the eye?
(One of our son’s recent paintings)
That question spawned another. What might I learn about producing beauty and meaning in my life that pleases God and my soul?
The following truths presented themselves:
Artists are observant, paying attention to detail. They’re constantly learning; delighting in discovery.
Imagine studying a blade of grass. Take note of the rich green color and subtle striping, its graceful curve downward and sharp, pale-yellow point. Add crystal dew drops and the sight is indeed beautiful and pleasing.
“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself”.
Henry Miller
But how often do we barrel through our days with no attentiveness, no reflection, no listening to God’s voice? In the middle of the bustling, niggling, babbling pother we miss God’s presence and other glorious gifts [2].
Lesson #1: The art of living well includes attentiveness to God’s beauty—in creation, in people, in words and deeds, in everything.
Artists spend time with inspiring people, including other artists.
And who is more inspiring than God?! He invites us to concentrate on staying close to him, the divine Artist [3].
Just think: God wants to spend quality time with us. He looks forward to our time together and misses us when we don’t show up. Quiet time isn’t meant to be a ritual; it’s meant to be a relationship [4].
Lesson #2: The art of living well includes the great privilege and pleasure of keeping company with God.
Artists are deep thinkers and curious about truth.
While the subject matter of the masterpiece, The Girl with a Pearl Earring is obvious enough for a child to understand, it will not yield its astonishing riches except to those who study the painting and reflect on Vermeer’s attention to light, shade, balance, color, and even the brush strokes. (Only two strokes created the pearl.)
The same is true for those of us who seek truth from God’s Word. Its basic message is clear enough for a child to understand [5]. But it will not yield its astonishing riches unless we study and reflect on its teachings (Proverbs 4:20-22).
Lesson #3: Open the treasury of the Bible and delight in its magnificent contents.
Artists are persistent and patient.
It took Georges Seurat two years to paint A Sunday on Le Grande Jatte—with tiny dots.
Leonardo da Vinci spent about four years to get the Mona Lisa just right.
Michelangelo lay on his back the better part of five years to create the 343 figures on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Consider: “Even God does not make a glorious sunset in a moment. For several days He gathers the mist with which to build His beautiful palaces in the western sky”[6].
Lesson #4: Take joy in process and progress; stay the course and proceed steadily in the way God reveals (Psalm 119:1 MSG).
Artist, Robert Henri (1865-1929) observed:
“The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.”
Robert Henri
Such an applicable statement to the art of living well as a Christian! Our object isn’t to perform for God as much as it is to know him, love him, and desire to honor him–which makes a beautiful, God-honoring life inevitable.
[1] Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, 193.
[2] Leslie William, Night Wrestling, quoted in Refresh My Heart, compiled by Terri Gibbs, 124.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, 73.
[5] Jesus took the punishment we deserved for our wrongful behavior. When we confess our sins, believe in Jesus as our Savior, and accept him into our lives as Lord, he bestows many blessings now, and eternal life in heaven with him to come. Millions of children have responded with simple faith to these wonderful truths. I was one of them.
[6] L. B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert, p. 206.
Art & photo credits: J. Eric Ruegg; http://www.wikimedia.commons.org; http://www.publicdomainpictures.net; http://www.hippopx.com; http://www.wikimedia.commons.org (2); http://www.canva.com.
From the Inside Out 
“The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.”
Robert Henri
Yes, I agree. Just to be. Heart to heart with God. “It isn’t about ritual but relationship.” Such a beautiful and refreshing post, Nancy. Thank you.
Deb
You liked the Henri quote; I like yours! There’s no joy comparable to being “heart to heart with God.” So glad you found beauty and refreshment here, Deb!
Nancy, great post. I love that art by your son, he is good! I appreciate these four steps of discipline through art, thank you for bringing that to life
Thank you, Brenda. I’ll pass on your compliment to Eric! He IS a talented artist (if I do say so myself!), not just with his ability to draw, paint, mold, etc., but with his creative mind that can add an intriguing twist to reality. For example, I’ve never seen sunbeams with a rainbow effect, but he created them in this painting.
I admit I did enjoy his painting
Nancy, first of all, thank you for reminding me of the word “pother” — a state way too familiar to me. Make me potherless, please—that’s my prayer today.
I love that Henri quote. Here’s another by Mark Nepo I recently came upon that you might like (in context, he’s using “saves” to suggest “redirects my attention” as opposed to the enacting salvation):
“It is the space that creating opens that saves me, not what it produces.”
Yes, indeed, I like that quote! I’ll have to share it with my granddaughters who become frustrated when their creative efforts don’t match up to their expectations. We can take pleasure in the experimentation, creative expression, and joy of design, color, texture, etc. even when results are not what we’d hoped. Thank you for sharing, Laurie! And thank you for your prayer about becoming potherless. To that I say AMEN!
Nancy, a beautiful post as always. I have seen the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the Mona Lisa, disciplined artists to paint these masterpieces!
Thank you, Pam. What a thrill it must have been to see Michelangelo’s and Da Vinci’s works in person!
Lovely reflection. I never really thought of us artists but we are made in the image of the Great Artist.
That’s right! My mother often said, “I wish I were more creative!” She claimed she could never draw, and I don’t think I ever saw her try. But I’d remind her she was an excellent creative problem-solver–another valuable character trait. We need everyone’s abilities!
Hi Nancy. I appreciate your description of “the art of Christian living.” What a beautiful way to describe our walk with the Savior. I also like how you pointed out that our quiet time with the Lord is not meant to be a ritual, but instead a relationship. That is a very important truth. Being flexible as the Holy Spirit leads us, will promote our intimacy with Him. It is easy to allow “rituals” and religion instead of relationship to cause us to miss out. Blessings ❤️
That statement caught my attention too, Dawn, when I read it in Joanna Weaver’s book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (endnote #4 to the post). I’m so glad you found it meaningful too!
First of all, please tell Eric that his painting is glorious. Secondly, I must confess that ‘pother’ is a new word to me! (And I love to learn.) Finally, I marvel at those artists who have been blessed with such talent and that we can appreciate them in museums and pictures. However, your post reminded me that no one here on earth comes close to the beauty created by our Lord. I believe that in Heaven we will see beauty and colors we’ve never seen before. Thank you for sharing ways to improve ‘The Art to Living Well’.
I’m so glad you think highly of Eric’s painting. It’s even more stunning in real life. / I hadn’t heard/read the word “pother” in a long time. It’s such a good word to have in our word bank! / I agree: we’ll no doubt see beauty and colors beyond our present imagination, once we get to heaven! (I feel like I’ve written this response before, but it’s not here, so I’ve replied again. Maybe I forgot to hit the “post comment” button last time! 😆 )
Beautiful lessons. ❤
Thank you, Anna! So glad you found beauty here.
A few of us caught “pother” in the narrative, Nancy. I love the adventure of a new word. This is part of your message, I think, about taking moments to appreciate the little things. I find blogging itself to be a kind of art, because I get lost in the process, education, and creative license of it all. At some point I stand back and declare the product finished, but perhaps the more important aspect, as you say, is the discoveries along the way.
I agree–“pother” is such a delicious word, probably because we don’t hear it often. You’ll note from the endnotes that the statement came from Leslie Williams, in her book Night Wrestling (1997). “Pother” is a word we need to bring back into circulation! / Agreed, Dave: blogging is a kind of art as we strive to put words together in sensical yet creative ways. And with you, each week I have to hit the “publish” button, even though I could continue tweaking! Third, I too relish the discoveries of knowledge and insight along the way, as God brings them to my attention.
I’m sitting here blown away by the magnitude and truths of your words. This blog is a keeper for me, one I want to read over and over. Noticing God all around me every day…relationship and not ritual…being persistent on the path He ordains for me…and so much more. What a challenge and yet a sweet blessing this was to me, Nancy. Thank you!
Praise God you found blessing in this post, Patty! (Challenge is its own kind of blessing, isn’t it?) Please note that “relationship and not ritual” was an idea from Joanna Weaver, in her book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. (See endnote #4.) It spoke to me, too!
Nancy, this makes me smile because I just hit the publish button on Grieving Well. They really do go hand in hand. But it’s living I most want to major on …
Agreed, Linda! Grieving IS a part of living; there’s a way to even grieve well. Heading over to your blog now to read your take on the subject!
Thank you, Nancy, for these valuable lessons. We make the Christian life so complicated when it’s not at all. I’m going to check myself by these lessons to stay on track. BTW, your son’s painting is beautiful. I love taking pictures of the sun streaming through trees. I thought it was an actual picture for a bit! I hope he keeps painting.
Thank you, dear Mary, for your encouragement. As we keep company with God, so much else in life falls into place. / I’m glad you liked Eric’s painting. It’s one of my favorites out of the many he’s completed. Part of its impact is the size–at least 4′ x 4′. It took my breath away when I first saw it!