Songs of Water

There is something so beautiful about a person fully given to the work of their hands; an artist immersed without apology in the work he/she was created to do. I recently watched “Rivers and Tides”, a documentary on the creative work of Andy Goldsworthy.
In this, I caught a glimpse into the life of one who has followed the passion of his heart. I was able to see the “fruit” of his devotion, his discipline sparked by love. I witnessed one who presses past the frustrations, the distractions, the obstacles and disappointments into the fullness of what he has inside of him.
We often miss so very much in life because our eyes and ears have grown numb to the beauty around us. Dullness creeps in upon us in such subtle, life stealing ways. We were created to approach life with a constant sense of awe and wonder. Many times, the residue of mediocrity and the mundane tarnishes our perception.
One of my good friends is a three year old child named Cadence Zion. I’ve known him since he was a seed in his mother’s belly. Recently, I saw him dancing around causing havoc in the very beautiful way he does. He happened upon a simple number 2 pencil lying on the ground. But to him, he had just gotten a hold of a magical wand of power or something! He looked up at me with the pencil clutched firmly in his hand, his eyes were wide open along with his mouth. There was such a sense of WOW! Look what I’ve got! Ha ha! Then he went about drawing and marking all over the floor. I thought to myself, how cool is that. He is still so fascinated with even the smallest of discoveries.
But for many of us, routine of habit and the primal appetite for survival forces a person to lose himself in order to live. What a foreign concept. What a sad burlesque, a sorrowful detriment, a social straying from the original heart and purpose of God for a person.
Therefore, what a rare and beautiful gift to see an artist who has somehow forged through the fires and found some favor, some way of communicating what God has put inside of him to the world. This is what I saw in Andy Goldsworthy. I saw one who has abandoned himself to the work he has been “commissioned” to do.
All are called, few are chosen.
Come out of hiding.
selah.

posted by Stephen at 9:23 AM

<< Home