Whoops... Sorry, December

So, I didn't blog in December. heheh. Thanks to my brother for giving me crap about it, too. But here it is, the new year, and it's time for some BLOGGIN'!

I'm actually sitting in the middle of Milk Boy Coffee, our favorite coffee haunt, waiting to go up for my first ever open mic night. Reason number fifty billion why I love my wife? She kicks me in the booty until I get out and play for other people. So here I am, doing my "I'm a singer/songwriter" thing. And i've been writing a bit more, so it's starting to actually feel like the truth, slowly but surely. It's a good feeling.

And being here, in a room full of artists, I'm starting to think about this conversation I had with Nate about where art fits into the life of Christ follower. There's this tension that we were discussing about dedicating time and energy to creation. Lots of time and energy. Perhaps the majority of your time and energy. And the there's the voice, or voices, that call you to right and true things, beautiful things, but things that would demand some of that time and energy you've dedicated to creation. So what wins? Committing to your neighbor who needs their place painted or band practice? And that seems to most Christ-followers, me included, to be a no-brainer. It's right to give yourself sacrificially, and if you're not involved in that kind of giving, then you're missing out in something fulfilling and central to following Jesus. Nate and I have a lot of friends who are involved in that kind of sacrificial life, and they call us to it, through words and actions. The tension comes when we're forced to choose between creation and serving.

Now don't get me wrong. They're not mutually exclusive, creation and serving. There should be a lot of both in everyone's lives. But I'm reminded of the Levites from Israel. When Israel was first figuring out who it was going to be, God made special provisions for the Levites. Among their many responsibilities, Levites were the artists of the community, and God made sure to set these people aside so they could be dedicated to the purposes of creation for the glory of God. And I think there's still a special place for artists in the community of Christ. When we are creative, we're tapping into the heart of the Creator God.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm glad there are people who dedicate themselves to creation. There's music and art and photography and poetry and literature and all sorts of expressions that bring me joy, make me mad, and bring me closer to Jesus. And I want those people to keep doing what they're doing. And if it means that that they choose band practice over a service project, I guess I'm ok with that. And even as I write that, I'm thinking, "But you've gotta remember to... Everyone's got a part to play... Make sure that you don't..." but you know what? I want Nate make music and art. So I'm gonna leave it at that.

Nate, if you don't keep creating, I'm gonna punch you in the teeth.