Everything That's On My Mind

(I started reading Bono: A Self-Portrait in Conversation over the holidays. I'll probably blog on it a few times as quotes grab me.)

“The world demands to be described, and so, painters, poets, journalists, pornographers, and sitcom writers, by accident or by design, are just following orders, whether from high or low, to describe the world they’re in.”
~Bono

This reminded me of a blog entry I made a while ago on the arts. I've always been more of an artist-wannabe than a true artist. I have a great appreciation for those who have the talent and drive to "describe the world they're in." I think Bono makes a great observation here, that all artists are just following orders. The question is, where are those orders coming from? That's not to say that only Christians can create God-inspired art, nor that all art created by non-Christians inspired by Satan. The point is, nothing is created in a vacuum. Only God creates "ex nihlo", with no outside influences.

The fact is, all of us are under the influence of both Good and Evil. Whether you're painting the ceiling of some chapel in Italy or grinding out the day in some bland cubicle, what you do/think/say is influenced by the things around you. None of us are an island, no matter how hard some try. We do, however, have a measure of control over how we are influenced by these things. That's why it's so important to walk through this life with brains and spirits fully engaged.

When I owned a sailboat, I could choose to allow the wind to push me where it was blowing, or I could use the tools I had (a sail, a rudder, a brain) to choose my path. I couldn't change the wind, but I could change my course. The same is true in life. We can't change the influences around us, but we can choose the direction we allow them to drive us. The question is, are you choosing or drifting?

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

"Gotta Serve Somebody" - Bob Dylan