“self ” of our own: our selfhood, our individual personality, is derived from the
infinite Humanity of the Lord – who, in an absolute sense, is the One and Only
Human Being there is. (cf. Divine Love and Wisdom 4, 11, 28, 45 etc.)
The Divine can be reflected in art generated by a humble desire to serve
God and man and add to the world’s beauty, but art whose only purpose is to
display the artist’s own talent is like a mirror lying on the ground face-down,
reflecting nothing of the sun of heaven.
Life, love, wisdom, beauty – these things originate with God. Remembering
that we were created by God to be recipients of life from Him, we see that
the key to human creativity and originality is to be receptive to the Divine.
Acknowledgment and love of God is the “tree of life.” Among the fruits of that
tree is human art.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,” the Lord said, “for I am
gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)
The creative spirit of an artist who is lowly in heart will find rest in the art he
produces. The Lord Himself was “imperfect,”
and there is more chance of finding a
reflection of His beauty in a simple, humble,
unpretentious work of art or craftsmanship
than in some egotistical, melodramatic effort
at self-glorification.
J.S. Bach wrote the initials S.D.G. – for
Soli Deo gloria, “Glory to God alone” – at the
end of all his church compositions and some
of his secular works. Handel sometimes did
the same. When we look to the Divine Self
from which our finite self is derived, then
work done as a means of self-expression can
at the same time be done for the glory of God.
Human Perfectibility
The most important “work of art” each of
us is engaged in producing is the form we
impose upon our own life. Throughout our
lives we are fashioning a natural vessel into
which spiritual life will flow, its quality to be
determined by that of the receiving vessel.
Really, though, we are just assistants working
in the Master’s studio. If we let Him, He will
add the finishing touches that will redeem our
humble efforts and endow our imperfect work
373
The Divine can
be reflected in
art generated by
a humble desire
to serve God and
man and add to
the world’s beauty,
but art whose
only purpose is to
display the artist’s
own talent is like
a mirror lying on
the ground facedown, reflecting
nothing of the
sun of heaven.