Discovering God Through the ArtsSample

Discipline is also a critical part of the making of art. Artists must master all the technical aspects of their work before a creative breakthrough can occur. They must learn about line and color and composition, as well as shapes and shades. They must gather their supplies and make certain they have the right tools at hand. Only then can they create a beautiful work of art. So, in the spiritual life, you might need to learn some basics so that your spiritual breakthrough can happen. You might recite some great prayers from Scripture or from believers through the centuries in order to give you the language you need to express your heart to God. You might need to learn how to deal with distractions that rob you of focus. You might want to learn some breathing techniques that help calm and focus your mind. These are all tools that you can use in a natural way once they become part of your spiritual toolbox. The reason golfers spend a lot of time swinging a golf club in practice is so that when they are standing over the ball and getting ready to hit it, they don’t have to even think about the details. It has become ingrained. Second nature. Spontaneity can occur because of all the preparation.

And it requires a commitment to stay patient and keep moving forward. “Spirituality,” writes Robert Wuthnow, “is less like a watercolor that can be finished quickly and more like a sculpture that requires a long, slow process of chipping away without seeing any immediate results.”

But spiritual growth is not only about spiritual practices, for which the arts can sometimes be a great companion and encourager, but it is also about renewing our spiritual vision and passion, which is precisely where the arts can have the most impact and influence.