Some people desperately want Bob Lefsetz to review their records or come to their performances.  I am scared poopless of that idea. I mean, I think of it and actually shudder in fear.  You know why?  Because I don’t have the balls to say that I’m great at what I do! That makes me think I haven’t yet made art that I consider really great…which is a problem.  If somebody who I respect asks me if I’m really good at making music, (which has happened before) and I have to say ‘no’ or play the false modesty card (“oh, I’m not good at anything, I just have a good God and He is sooooo inspiring”—you know the line) then I have work to do.

Yeah yeah, I know, some of you will read this, raise an index finger above your head, and shout “I PROTEST” (which is normal for my posts these days). “But God receives glory from everything and everyone, no matter how humble our efforts!!”  That’s true.  It’s no excuse for me to be a mediocre artist. In fact, being blessed with any insight into the glory or the beauty of God should push me mightily towards better art. I can’t encounter great beauty and then just poop on a stick (metaphorically or literally) and call it good enough! That doesn’t satisfy my artist’s heart.  Great Beauty should inspire beautiful work.  

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is regarded as one of the world’s greatest works of art.  Even it, in all its beauty, falls short of God’s Beauty.  You cannot help but admit, though, that in its brilliance it assists the human heart in transcending this world and glimpsing the next.  We’re not all going to be Michelangelo (I’m dang well sure I won’t be) but we can work like mad to make something really, really good.  I daresay that in our “GOD IS DEAD” society, Goodness and Beauty have a crucial role to play in converting the world to Him, alongside Truth.  So we definitely shouldn’t settle for mediocrity in our work. Ever, ever, ever…whether we plumb toilets or paint portraits. 

I fully plan on continuing to make art. But I am feeling a kick in the pants..a deep-seated need to be working much harder and doing better things.  No time for putzing around in a muddle of ease and jargon…