Something happens when you realize the works of art that so moved you were far more contrived than your fantasy world's soft glow allows. You are challenged to decide whether that work is suddenly worth less or whether you've lost the ability to appreciate it.
I guess you could say that life is full of disillusionment. But I can't help but be tempted to think that the pattern of relationship that becomes more and more noticeable is really just hinting at our larger heritage. My sister's pastor said last week that people (good, bad, and everywhere inbetween) create great works because they themselves were created out of the stuffs of the Creator of all. And I wonder if what you see is a bunch of children earnestly, clumsily emulating behavior that they can barely understand--let alone duplicate.
It must be flattering to see so many try so hard and really, truly fail to grab onto the core of idea itself. Granted, that's a tall order--and an order with many unknowable steps. Maybe that's at the heart of a sort of worship: to do knowing that you lack the ability to do completely. It's as if the sacrifice that is embedded within starting works that you know you can't really complete brings your efforts a sincerity, a tangibility, that makes up for their lack of complete function. Maybe there's a distinct difference between the construction of complete creativity and the worship of incomplete, emulative paint tossing.
Sure, we may lack the ability to truly create, but you won't see that stop us from throwing more paint on the canvas, more film through the projector, or more music through the speakers. Foolish in a sense, but only foolish if you mind becoming "even more undignified." And it seems to me that all creativity starts with making yourself vulnerable--vulnerable to your own ignorance or inability, vulnerable to the judgment of actual quality.
This thought was triggered when I was looking for the source of a piece of art I have on my computer. I wanted to make a print of it and have it framed. I searched for its name only to find that it was named after a pop-rock song. It became impossible to find the source because so many people had made so many derivative pieces off of this song. And, at first I was discouraged by this. But then the pattern started to rise to the surface, and I was struck by our lemming march back to the feet of the Creator.
"All the same, it is His invention, not ours. He made the pleasures: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one." - Uncle Screwtape
P.S. There's two posts today. Check out "Wisdom's Roots" if you like a bit of dry reading.
Here's another analog I wrote for church. It's a bit dry, but I tried to make it a little interesting.
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"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?" - Proverbs 8:1
The world is full of problems and advice--people looking for the sorts of absolute truth that describes life in neatly drawn lines. And for many, the search for truth is a ruse that covers over a simple apathy for the real, practical struggles of daily life. Yet given the folly of such fruitless pursuits of understanding, the bible still considers wisdom a virtue of the highest kind.
"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding." - Proverbs 4:7
But what is this wisdom? What does this understanding do, and why is it at all important?
"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." – Colossians 2:2-3
In Paul's letter, he is attempting to provide subtle theological understanding amidst a teaching that is extremely practical. Though the thinking of God may well be higher than our own, Paul is showing us that the deepest of knowledge can be understood through the day-to-day practices of loving one another. In fact, it is through our love and encouragement to each other that the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are revealed.
"'To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right..." - Proverbs 8:4-6
There is a paradox in that the truth of the highest wisdom brings you right back to where the simplest of minds start: love and kindness. Wisdom calls out to us not only to understand the deep and complex realities, but also their direct relationships to the basic kindnesses that anyone can understand.
"They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:9
The "knowledge of the Lord" lies in the simplest of generosities and sacrifices. It is easy to get caught up in arguments—especially when the understanding they can lend seems so important. And though such arguments in the pursuit of absolute truth may get complicated and long-winded, we cannot lose sight of being "united in love" before we are united in understanding.
