The Purest Expression Of Our Faith Part 2

Part Two-
On Vacation- January 2, 2012

 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.- Philippians 4:8-9

                Every year the Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts bestows its Honors on artists and entertainers for distinguished work across their lifetimes; lifetimes passed in putting in practice over and over every ounce of innate gifting; submitting it to discipline so as to put on display the highest level of creative excellence. This year’s crew included people whose work speaks particularly into my life and who have influenced it to no small extent.
I missed the TV broadcast and so found myself on my Mom’s couch with my laptop watching tributes to Broadway veteran Barbara Cook who excels at the music of my favorite composer, Stephen Sondheim, actress Meryl Streep (simply better than everyone else. Don’t know why.), jazzman Sonny Rollins (if you speak jazz, you get it. If not, I can’t explain how that music lifts you out of yourself), cellist and global musician Yo-Yo Ma, and Neil Diamond who you already know (touching me, touching you, etc.). I grew up on Diamond, studied classical music, worked a dozen or so years in musical theater coaching actors and singers, once upon a time played alto sax (badly), and taught jazz performance and 20th century American culture for years. These people speak my language.
                Each was introduced and then celebrated by dozens of other world-class artists along with celebrities of one class or another. Segment after segment the focus was the same. They had devoted their lives and vocation, along with absurd amounts of time, to pursuing the purest level of excellence they were able to according to their gifts and talents. The sheer beauty of the art that poured out in tribute (and in my memory) went to work inside of me.  Something profound and intangible is set in motion when pure artistry is on display and that was evident but, this was more than just artistic excellence. Moving me with the art He gave to these performers, God formed a question in my soul,
“what could happen if I got hold of a truly pure expression of faith?”
At this point, let me sheepishly admit that I was pretty much overcome with emotion and glad my kids were engrossed in some Disney channel tripe in the other room so as not witness Dad crying a voice memo to God into his phone. I asked the Lord to make of my life the clearest purest expression of faith: faith that draws people to Christ.
It’s hard because we’d rather spend our time in worthless pursuits than in relating to our God. We’d rather tell everyone the rules we’ve created for being accepted by God rather than model God’s all-encompassing love for us even when we can’t live up to His perfect law. We’d rather argue God’s existence with skeptics than live like Christ and show them the power of His grace.
Even as I write this, I am still stumbling; another couple of wasted hours behind me. Putting what we’ve learned into practice, practicing what we preach isn’t so easy. Art isn’t easy but God says we are His handiwork and we are for a display of His splendor and so I trust that something beautiful will come when I fully embrace my relationship to our Creator. Someone will see Jesus and take hold of eternity. May God shape us to be expressions of His love; pure and powerful beyond words.

If you want to see some of the tributes, take your choice of link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnEfIHrGNxg    Meryl Streep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1-6jtWagpI     Yo-Yo Ma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0aV-gXIMCg     Barbara Cook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOrBeARPvJw   Neil Diamond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hkC2HIZTNw   Sonny Rollins

 If the arts are not your thing, check out Tom Brady throwing six touchdown passes in one game. Same idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jLh0dLgszs&t=66s


Comments

  1. Shawn BennettJanuary 21, 2012 at 12:58 PM

    Watched Brady... Not a huge football fan, but that was artwork, and precision. I stumble alot, and am far from perfect, or maybe even far from being any help at times... I also find it hard at times to practice what I preach (so to speak), but I'm with you brother in wanting to make a difference.

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