Starving in Italy

Metaphorically speaking that is…

Lots of tears today—tears of grief from artists coming back to art late in life, after long exile, feeling ‘robbed’ of their artistic calling; tears of joy from younger artists, as they find their ‘tribe’—and receive words of affirmation, validation and empowerment. Tears of frustration from those who are scurrying around, trying to find all the materials we need and back us up as we dive deeper into our conference (one worker drove one mile in two hours of Italian heat, trying to find art supplies; he arrived in time to a “Closed for Siesta” store and had to return to the hotel—to return again later when the store opens.)

Starving artists, one and all, starved for resources, affirmation and confidence. Starved by fears and doubts. Striving to fulfill the calling God has on their lives, and wondering how. It’s not easy to answer God’s call, impossible as it initially appears to be.

One could weep, to hear the artists. True, sometimes it is self-pity, and the temptation is there to kick 'em in the butt and say, "Get going!" But most often it is a deep frustration and wrestling with God. Finances and time always lacking; support seemingly non-existent, except in the fellowship of other artists.

“Why did He make me this way?” is a complaint I often hear (and have voiced myself). And I answer over and over, “We live in a fallen world…” and encourage them to fight on, to fight for their calling, and to get busy. No surrender. God loves art and beauty, and He wants the artist to value that too, and challenge the world with it. We are pioneering, reclaiming territory long given over to the enemy of our souls, misunderstood by a majority in the church, though we are the church, and fighting our own demons.

Pray for us, as we tap this deep reservoir of emotion, and get artists to look at their wounds, get them healed, and remove the stones that prevent them from proceeding along the path God has set before them.