it judges us

Several days ago I opened the front cover of an inspiring book and began reading. Jo Carol mentioned this book during our discussion on Art and Fear two weeks ago, and then it was randomly handed to me by a friend who had no idea that I was interested in reading it. Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'Engle. I am amazed at the truth delivered through these pages. Such inspiration cannot go "un-blogged".

In reference to what some people consider to be non-Christian art...

An abstract composition by Kandinsky or van Gogh's landscape of the cornfield with birds... is a real instance of divine transfiguration, in which we see matter rendered spiritual and entering into the glorious liberty of the children of God. This remains true, even when the artist does not personally believe in God. Provided he is an artist of integrity, he is a genuine servant of the glory which he does not recognize, and unknown to himself there is something divine about his work. We may rest confident that at the last judgment the angels will produce his works of art as testimony on his behalf.

We may not like that, but we call the work of such artists non-Christian at our peril. Christ has always worked in ways which have seemed peculiar to many men, even his closest followers. We need not feel that we have to understand how he works through artists who do not consciously recognize him. Neither should our lack of understanding cause us to assume that he cannot be present in their work.

To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda, nor even in stirring people up, but in being a living mystery. It means to live in such a way that one's life would not make sense if God did not exist.

Those who believe they believe in God, but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God himself.

And this is what I draw from to create my work.

We do not judge great art. It judges us.