One of the first days at the Youth for Christ Zimbabwe, the youth center we were working with this month, our host Michael introduced us to one of the men who worked at the center. His name was Musa, and he was an artist.
We asked to see some of his work, and they took us down to an office on the first floor, where several of Musa’s paintings hung. He explained to us why he loved painting, and how he wanted to reach people with the message and love of Jesus Christ through his art. Immediately, I recognized his passion, and was struck by the similarities of our goals.
Those of you who have ever had the dubious fortune of asking me about a book have experienced my inability to restrain myself from launching into a detailed analyzation of the novel that may or may not be contained to 4 hours or more. But there is one book above all others that I admire and love, and that book is called “Hinds’ Feet on High Places”.
“Hinds’ Feet on High Places” is a Christian allegory novel written by Hannah Hurnard, based on Habbakuk 3:19. The book is about a young woman named Much-Afraid, who lives in the Valley of Humiliation and works for the Chief Shepherd, and her difficult journey to the High Places along with her two companions, Sorrow and Suffering, to overcome her tormenting fears in order to reach the Kingdom of Love and recieve a new name.
That book changed how I walked with Christ. My greatest goal in life is to one day write a book just like HFHP that will change and transform how people view their relationship and walk with Christ just as drastically as HFHP changed mine.
When I shared this with Musa, he immediately responded with excitement and passion about his own work and how he has been striving toward that same goal. It was so exciting to meet someone that understood my passion for reaching people with the gospel through art.
When we left Zim, Musa placed a painting and a bookmark in each of our bibles. On the back, he left a message. He told me to keep striving toward my goal, and that he knew with God’s help I’d get there one day. So from one artist to another, thank you Musa. We can do this!
