Sometimes the toughest thing about art is the idea
The Challenge:
When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name; the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The world buzzes about goals and visions. Focus. Create a vivid picture of exactly where you want to go. Dream big, then don’t let anything or anyone stop you. The problem, as Daniel Gilbert wrote in Stumbling Upon Happiness, is that we’re horrible at forecasting how we’ll really feel 10 or 20 years from now – once we’ve gotten what we dreamed of. Often, we get there only to say, “That’s not what I thought it would be,” and ask, “What now?” Ambition is good. Blind ambition is not. It blocks out not only distraction, but the many opportunities that might take you off course but that may also lead you in a new direction. Consistent daily action is only a virtue when bundled with a willingness to remain open to the unknown. In this exercise, look at your current quest and ask, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” They’re always there, but you’ve got to choose to see them.
My Response:
The life I am currently living at least in regard to my ministry and vision are already an alternative path. My vision was and to some degree remains to have a group of artists serious about creating productions, performances and exhibitions that tell people the story of Jesus and His love for us. The inability to get that group to gel caused me to share the things I was creating on the web and going to churches and sharing live. This has opened doors to me to share with folks all over the world. It’s also changed the way I look at life to some degree. I now try harder to be faithful with each day and let the day serve God’s plan. The best advice I can give is to hold onto God tightly and my plan loosely. Use each day as best you can, work toward your goal but let God steer.
Bible Reading Guide
An important part of following God is knowing what He wants and a great way to know what He wants is to read His Word. Follow this plan and you will finish reading the Bible in a year.
1Kings 5-6; Proverbs 15
You can also download your own chart here.
