Work, Gifts, Water into Wine
“our work is shaped by our love for God” Late Vocations Each one of has has been given a unique combination of gifts, talents and abilities that no one else has. There is something that every person can do in a way that no one else can. These gifts areContinue Reading
The Pieta, Baptism, and the Restoration of the World
“Our work is to continually restore a world that has been broken by our fallen nature” The Pieta Why did Jesus insist on being baptism? John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. But Jesus was without sin so why was He so persistent about being baptizedContinue Reading
Complacency and the Gift of the Outsider
“Complacency is a satisfaction with the way things are and a rejection of things as they might be.” A Lesson From the Wild Ronald Meredith, in his book “Hurryin’ Big For Little Reasons,” describes one quiet night in early spring: “Suddenly out of the night came the sound of wildContinue Reading
Football, Obedience, and the Arts
“Obedience does not rob us of our freedom, rather it frees us to employ the full range of our gifts and talents in service to the Master.” French archbishop Francois Fenelon said this about obedience. “It is not the multitude of hard duties, it is not constraint and contention thatContinue Reading
The Visitation, Mission, and Choice
“God has given us all a role to fulfill, it is for us to choose whether or not we do so.” Art For Art’s Sake The idea of art for art’s sake is a relatively new concept in the human understanding of art. It something of the culmination of aContinue Reading
Preparation, Joy, and the Battle of Light and Darkness
“Advent is traditionally a period of fasting and prayer as we prepare ourselves for the great day of our salvation. But we must remember that it is also a time of joy and anticipation.” It is a time of testing, preparation, and joy. The Angel of the Desert In traditionalContinue Reading
Tower Thinking, Cathedral Thinking, and the Power of Collaboration
“We can do great work individually, we can do even greater work together.” Tower Thinking There has been a trend in the last couple of hundred years for modern artists to isolate themselves, each in his or her own “ivory tower,” so that their art is “pure,” unaffected by theContinue Reading
Advent, Artists, and A Time To Choose
“As the days grow shorter and colder we learn that this world will one day end. …Until that day comes, we have a choice to make.” It is an old joke. A businessman needs to hire an accountant for his business. From all the applicants he selects three to interview.Continue Reading
Kipling, The Artistic Calling, and the End of Time
“Perhaps our greatest desire, often unexpressed, is to be content, to be at peace, to be happy” I would like to welcome our guest blogger today, Mr. Rudyard Kipling. My comments will follow. All yours Rudy. When Earth’s Last Picture is Painted When Earth’s last picture is painted and theContinue Reading
“If I Were, Who Would Know?”
“Who would know?” Early on in the 1966 film, A Man for All Seasons, a young man by the name of Richard Rich is hanging around the household of Thomas More. Thomas More is a judge and Rich hopes that More’s influence can lead the young man to aContinue Reading