How I Define “Good Works” For Artists

Here is my definition of “good works”:

The fruit
of all my efforts,
on my good days and bad,
to bring
my body,
talents,
mind,
feelings,
opportunities,
imagination,
words, and
actions 

into conformity with God’s heart.

Inception Gifts

Adam Martin, Fast Company

One of my favorite movies is Christopher Nolan’s Inception.

Even it’s movie trailer parodies are top notch.

The above infographic visually captures the Russian-nesting-doll concept within the movie’s plot. So if you’ve seen the movie, you’re familiar with it.

I thought about this as I thought about the idea of gift giving.

One on hand, yes, you are gifting someone something material. A greeting card is tangible. A wrapped present is tactile. A wad of cash is physical.

But within the material lies its own nesting doll.

We do not just give material things. Embedded within them is gifting joy, humor, and blessing.

Next time you consider blessing someone else, look beyond the tactile, see the Inception gift.

How Culture Dies

It is a tragedy when birth rates decline. A society moves toward population collapse when this occurs.

It is equally tragic when we cease multiplying our ideas and the works of our hands in service to others.

When we hoard our ideas, acts of love, and service—and carry them with us to the grave—so culture itself begins to die.

John Coltrane: Making Others Happy Through Music

John Coltrane's 1965, A Love Supreme, is regarded as one of the best jazz albums ever recorded. But what fueled the beauty behind such a famous piece? In the intro notes, he writes parts of his testimony and included the following:

"DEAR LISTENER: ALL PRAISE BE TO GOD TO WHOM ALL PRAISE IS DUE. Let us pursue Him in the righteous path. Yes it is true; 'seek and ye shall find.' Only through Him can we know the most wondrous bequeathal. During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music."

Read the rest of the liner notes here.

Hidden Servants

“Hidden Maker” (Matt, 2024)

Michael Scott finally noticed it.

As he noticed the office plant life dying and his non-organized desk toys, he learned it had always been Dwight serving the office in the shadows.

This highlights one of my favorite scenes from The Office: when Dwight quit Dunder Mifflin. Dwight’s services are thus revealed as one devout to the office. His loyalty surpassed his co-worker, Andy’s. He served the office both in the public eye and in secret.

I call Dwight a Hidden Servant.

Defining Hidden Servants

I call “hidden service” the work by those with servant hearts. Only, it takes time for their impact to be seen.

This is in contrast to “explicit service,” when good works are loud and clear for anyone to see and perceive.

Hidden servants are content to perform their good works before an audience of One: God. They trust God is in control and therefore don’t fret if no one sees their labor.

Consider the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, who died in 1865, the same month the Civil War ended. It would be one hundred years before the death of Civil Rights Movement leader, Martin Luther King Jr.’s, death in 1968. Both of these figures paved the path for Obama’s presidency in 2009.

While Lincoln’s impact was on one hand, explicit, the legacy of his impact would take over 150 years before permeating into the larger soil of American culture.

The point is: a hidden servant’s work takes time for permeated impact.

The Arts and Hidden Servants

Arts serve as a hidden, yet pervasive, servants.

Consider the impact of Martin Luther’s songwriting. After almost 500 years, the global church still sings his hymns around the world. Most who sing them have never read his books. How many more sing not even knowing who he is?

The allusive material of art works over time in the shadows long after an artist has died. Museum are a living testimony to this.

Van Gogh barely sold any paintings during his lifetime.

Bach’s music took 100 years to gain popularity.

In a certain sense, we remain “alive” through the artifacts we put into the world after our deaths.

Like Tadashi in creating Baymax, our posthumous liveliness remains because of the fact that we made something.

200 year question

So, next time you set your mind on a project, act of service, work of allusive love, ask yourself, “what will this become in 200 years? How can I make this last 200 years after I am gone?

How to start (and maintain) a conversation

The sermon ended. The marching orders to “love your neighbor” resounded upon your conscious. The next 24 hours, you mentally prepared for how you would jump into action with that co-worker, friend, family member, or neighbor. The next day, the moment finally arrives. Unfortunately, you step on that lego piece called “dialogue” not having a clue how to have small talk. The moment leaves. Not only did you miss that “service” opportunity, your lacking social skills left the other person feeling…uncomfortable.

On the pendulum between “Extroverted” and “Introverted,” I lean more towards the Introverted side.

Introversion can also be a symptom of another characteristic many artists feel. Borrowing imagery from Beowulf, Makoto Fujimura calls the artist’s role Mearcstapas, or, those who find themselves on the borders of communities.

When artists venture from their borders into the center of groups, that’s where it gets spicy. Manifested in social gatherings, we find all insecurities peek their heads: Awkwardnesses, social quirks, embarrassing remarks, missing of social cues, ill-timed humor, and outside of the inside jokes.

In light of this, any simple, memorable, and practical tips for serving others with our words and actions help.

Probably about 5 months ago, I found myself listening to a story by Jake Parker on the 3-Point Perspective Podcast. He shared a formula his dad gave him which he used to interact with others at artist’s conventions.

Whether meeting someone for the first time or making small talk with someone you know, try following this simple acronym: F.O.R.M.

F - Family: tell me about your family.

O - Occupation: what do they do for work?

R - Recreation: what do you enjoy doing for fun, relaxation?

M - Motivation: what drives you as a person?

In the last 5 months, I have found myself relying on this framework multiple times in my conversations. I’ve tried to keep it natural, not making sure I follow it as a strict set of rules. Keeping the questions open-ended (meaning, no “yes/no” questions) keeps the conversation moving at the pace of the curiosity between both parties.

One Jesus, Many Mentors

What if, instead of attaching ourselves to only one mentor, we acknowledged we have one Jesus?

And what if we, instead, folded many into our lives as mentors?

Did not God create a priesthood of all believers?

Is there a character trait or gifting I want to grow in? What if I found others who possessed those qualities already and apprenticed myself to a multitude of mentors understanding all of their gifts come from God?

Launcing An Art Movement

In his book, Culture Care, Makoto Fujimura says there are three things needed to launch an art movement:

1. An artist-type with creative capital

2. A pastor (or community organizer) type with social capital

3. A business type with access to material captist

He says at least 2 are needed. But all 3 are ideal. This makes partnership crucial for artists. If you want to see your art spread, build up relational capital with others.