Ever since I first heard this story a few years ago, it keeps circling in my head: Isadora Duncan, famed American dancer, was asked after a performance to explain the meaning of her dance. She reportedly replied to the questioner, “No, I can't explain the dance to you; if I could tell you what it meant, there would be no point in dancing it.”

Art is subjective. Able to reveal deeper truths than the most poignant soundbite, yet, ask anyone on the street what it is and you’ll get as many definitions as individuals questioned.

When I first learned about our practice Create Beauty, all I could think of was art. I love art: painting, dance, poetry, theatre, film, and music. Whether the medium communicates a complex idea or even if it just provides an attack on the senses, I think art is wonderful.

The arts have provided powerful vehicles for ideas and messages in the 20th and 21st centuries and unfortunately, Christians have, more often than not, taken a back seat or simply followed the fold. I firmly believe that if we believe in an infinitely creative God, Christians should be on the frontlines of all artistic fields, experimenting, pushing boundaries, and reinventing crafts to tap into the good and bad of the human experience and promote love, peace, empathy, justice, and ultimately Christ.

Yet, as passionate as I am, I don’t consider myself very artistic. My handwriting hasn’t improved much since fifth grade, my Seize the Clay pottery turns out a mess, high school poetry class was just embarrassing, and even after six years of drum lessons I still couldn’t keep time. How can I create beauty in the world?

As I’ve explored the practice, I have found Create Beauty is subjective in a way. It isn’t the sole responsibility of painters or composers, or poets and storytellers – though we should absolutely soak ourselves in their work, letting it inspire us to create beauty in ways we are able and gifted. For me, creating beauty is no longer just about art, but is any genuine expression of oneself that also reflects into the world the infinite creativity of the God of love, which, with hope and faith and truth, seeks to bring good and life into the world.

For example, one way Annie and I create beauty is by gardening. We both find great joy in watching plants grow and thrive, each one lovely and unique. In an attempt to lessen food waste, we join with others to collect scraps, and share the compost for our gardening projects. Annie enjoys arranging flowers and greenery for others. When we grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs, we love to share the beauty we helped cultivate by cooking and baking with and for others.

Creating beauty can come in a variety of forms. While writing this, our power has been out for five days and the Martins have graciously let us stay with them. As I look around, I can see the incredible work they have put into remodeling their home. But, it hasn’t just been for themselves. I’ve seen them allow numerous people to stay when in need. This past week’s Sunday service was held here. They have used the beauty they created to love and serve others.

Several more people come to mind: Lonnie Lewis creates beauty through helping others restore their homes, Abhijith Dass makes incredible meals for friends and family, and the Minyards not only create beauty through woodworking, but also by using their knowledge of nutrition and exercise science to work with others to achieve their health and wellness goals.

Cynthia Pearl Maus tells us, the arts “are concerned, not with prosaic facts, but with the poetic joy of discovering beauty wherever it may be found. In the landscape, the sea, the sky, the human soul and many another source.”¹ I think this idea can expand past the arts and into many aspects of our lives. As Christ followers, I think we should always seek to discover new ways to create beauty around us. 

Creating beauty can come from innate abilities but it also takes imagination and a reassessment of what we have written off about ourselves. I’ve had a knack for baking since I was young and I want to continue to create beauty through it. I may no longer have a drum kit but I have grown to love the cajon. It’s a new love, and I doubt I’ll be TikTok famous for mad cajon skills, but I enjoy playing and I hope to one day bring others joy through it.

This week, think about the ways you Create Beauty. How can you invite others to share in the beauty you create? What new or renewed ways to create beauty can you explore?

-Ben

1 Cynthia Pearl Maus, Christ and the Fine Arts: An Anthology of Pictures, Poetry, Music and Stories Centering in the Life of Christ (New York: Harper & Row, 1959), 2.

Learn more about Create Beauty.