Maybe you’re like me; fresh out of art school with a ton of art history jammed in your head and hours of slave like labor put into the perfecting of craftsmanship. For most art students five years are spent living in art studios, thinking, breathing, and creating art. The high pressure resting on our shoulders, to deliver the most perfected and well-crafted objects to galleries and art magazines, has become a comforting feeling. But, now you’re preparing to leave all the comforts and hard earned respect in the art world behind to preach the gospel to eleven countries. It seems like those 40000 something hours of your life were just a waste. It has become second nature to speak and operated in a visual way. Words were used only for artist statements and thoughts only spent communicating with other artists concepts and ideas. Some of us find a comfort in paintings, sculptures, prints, and photography that is almost spiritual in nature. But let me assure you, you are not the only one leaving the comforts of the art world to do ministry. On top of that, God created you to create, so do not hang the towel up on your art just because you are leaving.
Isabella Lilias Trotter, a London native and woman, was well respected in the art community during the Victorian era. Respected so greatly art critic John Ruskin proclaimed, “She would be the greatest living painter and do things that would be Immortal.” Having grown up in an extremely humanitarian family and proclaiming to a deeply rooted Christian faith, Trotter denied her talent for art. She followed a calling to do ministry and proclaim the gospel after feeling a burden for Africa. In her thirties she left to start her ministry in Algeria. Trotter felt so strongly about spreading the gospel she was willing to give up art. Just like some of the racers going on the world race. Faithfully turning down fame for Christ she left her art behind until the language and cultural barriers caused her to re- introduced her talent in visual art. Trotter then used her art as a way to win over trust and communicate amongst the women of Algeria. So the statement Ruskin made was right (most likely not in the way he once thought). Trotter did “things that would be Immortal” for the sake of the gospel… and so will you.
“Have faith, like the flowers, to let the old things go. Earn His beatitude, His “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me” – “the beatitude of the trusting,” as it has well been called – even if you have to earn it like John the Baptist in an hour of desolation. You have told Him that you want Him only. Are you ready to ratify the words when His emptying begins to come? Is God enough? Is it still “My God” that you cry, even as Jesus cried when nothing else was left Him?” -Trotter
