"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died." 2 Corinthians 5:14 "Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the bravest one of all?" How would you answer that if you were the talking mirror? There are a lot of brave people in the world: skydivers, tight-rope walkers, rugby players and jewel thieves. The soldier who gets wounded in battle is to be praised, songs of his courage are to be sung, the man or woman in uniform has become America's unanimous choice for our modern day's hero. Well, what about your average mom and dad? The regular person sacrificing their lives and fortunes for the success of their children? Changing diapers when no one is there applauding your labor is a lonely road to walk. Going to work just to make enough money to keep the cupboards full can be a tedious bore - - but still a valiant commission none the less. How about the teachers who are working in rough schools, police officers walking the mean streets, and fire-fighters standing amidst the flames of a raging fire? Talk about courage! And of course you must include lion tamers and sword-swallowers. Bravery comes in all shapes and forms. Let me offer one more big hearted pioneer that is often forgotten; a person who must have a unique form of daring that few people ever fully embrace. My choice is the artist. "Huh? How can an artist be considered brave? All he does is stand in front of a canvas, putting a dash or color here, or a swoosh of oil paint there? Seems pretty tame to me." Follow my train of thought for a second and hopefully you will see the point I am driving at. The real artist, the one who moves hearts and enriches lives, is the one who has the guts to put his very soul down on the canvas. I am speaking of the artist who creates something out of nothing in order to communicate who they are or what they believe, because they must. It is scary to display a piece of who you are on a large canvas, or place your deepest thoughts down on a written page for all the world to see. What if the world doesn't like you? What if they think your work is lousy, or worse, offensive? What if they don't understand? It takes great risk to give of yourself to those who may reject you. But without the courage of the artist, the world would lose it's beauty and often it's meaning. If the artist left the canvas blank in order to protect himself; and out of fear they decided to stay safe in the comfort of his own home, keeping his works and ideas to himself, humanity would lose a part of it's shared importance and expressed value. If the musician didn't write the melody, the writer didn't pen the novel, the preacher didn't wrestle with the sermon, "More's the pity!" The best of artists bleed - - pouring out his life, who he is, what he believes, how he sees a better world - - in order to breath life into others. What if Jesus out of fear of rejection decided not give his blood? What if Paul for the sake of personal comfort chose not to write the letters that are found in the New Testament? What if Martin Luther, the great reformer, chose not to nail his 95 thesis on the door of Wittenberg? All of these people were artists in their own way, they each had something to express, blood to bleed. In the comfort of our current American life, people now only bleed if they can make a sure profit. If they won't be embarrassed or will never be misunderstood. In our desire to be liked and accepted we have quit making real art, the kind of picture, paper or statement that cries out to the world to wake up. Most of our canvas' remain blank. I love this quote by Teddy Roosevelt that sits above my desk: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” If God has really placed you here at this time and in this place, that must mean he has something for you to do. It takes real courage to give of yourself to others. It is hard to be honest. And even harder, to create something out of nothing. Bravery leaves a part of you behind so the world will start to seek true truth. Most people just want to be healthy and happy. That doesn't require the spilling of blood. Have you ever wondered why blood is the color red? So it will shock. So spill it!
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