How to Influence Culture from a Lower Status

Peter worked as a bus boy at a restaurant. Yet, his speciality sandwich made it on the menu.

How could such a thing occur? What would possess the owners and managers to allow a “low level” employee such creative control over their great-parents locally famous establishment?

Several conditions were necessary for such change:

1. The managers had the generosity to assume employees would create their own food during their shifts. There was no penalty for the amount of foods they could consume, try, or bring home.

2. Such an assumption meant the managers budgeted enough expendable resources/income for all workers. This was simply part of the work culture. So, the owners had the margin for expendables (i.e. extra bread, toppings, condiments, and other fixings).

3. Given such allowances, the employees felt the freedom to attempt any and all creative ideas for their own food creations. Under this cultural context, Peter not only felt the freedom, but encouragement to try, fail, and try again at culinary innovations.

4. After multiple attempts, Peter crafted an entirely new speciality sandwich. The other employees tried it. And eventually, management tasted this proof of concept.

5. Their experience led them to ask Peter to make several iterations until finally, they included it on the menu.

If you’re a leader, create such conditions for others. If you’re the “others,” take advantage where you have creative liberties to generate new expressions of love and care for others.

Reconciliation: A Gift And A Mission

For Paul, reconciliation was both a gift received and a mission we steward:

• Reconciliation is a divine gift believers have received (Romans 5:11).

• Reconciliation is the central message proclaimed through the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:19).

• Reconciliation is the ongoing ministry entrusted to our stewardship (the “ministry of reconciliation”; 2 Corinthians 5:18).

Consequently, how you exercise your creative calling as an artist is directly shaped by your understanding of reconciliation. To live as a Christian is to serve as a co-laborer with God in His ongoing mission.

God Makes us Smell

We can cultivate confidence by conducting ourselves with sincerity and purity, proclaiming the gospel, and following the Spirit's movement around us. Ensure your life exudes a fragrant aroma, much like a sacrifice.

Mission workers serve as the scent of Christ to God and to those around them. Our presence in the world reflects what God is accomplishing through us. But showcasing us, he spreads the knowledge of Him as we faithfully follow His path.

God uses missionaries to communicate knowledge. Through smell.

Ears to Hear

I was reflecting on what it means to have “ears to hear.” Jesus commonly used such a phrase when he told parables.

Having ears to hear is like having a nose to smell.

Most have ability to breath air in and out of their nostrils, but not all can smell scents.

A Cross-Cultural Concept of Art

What is true of all cultures and their artworks? Here are three universals:

• All cultures possess unique raw materials for use.

• All cultures operate with distinct values and worldviews.

• All cultures have developed their own forms of expression.

Remove all other secondary distractions. These elements provide everything necessary to engage in culture-making and contribute meaningfully to the world.

Different Lego Makers

There is no such thing as a non-make; we all create every single day.

We create words, sighs, grumblings, murmurs, praises, and laughter.

We craft moments, movements, meanderings. 

We make value through how we navigate the world each day.

The real question is: what kind of maker are you?

If you give a group of children Legos, you can observe their distinct styles emerge:

• Some kids need the instructions. They thrive by seeing the model.

• Others rely on explanations, feeling bound to verbal guidance.

• Some prefer bringing order out of chaos. They feel alive as they design their own system for world-building.

• Others build worlds around a story. They use their Lego creation to enact a narrative from their imagination.

And still, some see the Legos but choose not to play at all.

We’re “All” Artists!

Saying, “We’re all artists” is kind of like saying, “Everyone’s an evangelist.” 

Some are especially gifted for it.

But all should do it.

You May Not Be An Artist, But…

Sure, you may not be an Artist. 

However, with all you do and say, and how you do and say it builds an image within someone else's imagination. 

You are more of an artist than you think.