Blessed are the Peacemakers

Devotional By: Philippa Anderson

Some Thoughts:

 In a world that is increasingly full of strife, illness and division, it is imperative that we, as Christians, should take to heart Christ’s statement as found in Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the Peacemakers.” But, how do we make peace with one another? I believe that to make peace we should focus more on what makes us the same as one another and less on what makes us different.

 One very important commonality between civilizations is that art is found in every single one, from the most primitive prehistoric cave paintings to the amazing images on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Renaissance artist, Michelangelo to the works of the Impressionists and everything in between and since.

 We often refer to artists as “being inspired” to create. The word “inspire” is from the Latin and speaks to the fact that the spirit comes into the artist and fills him or her with a need to create.  It is no accident that when I am in my workshop creating a piece of jewelry or in my kitchen painting a painting, I will often lose all sense of time. Is it just me and what I am creating…or is it something so much more? I believe that it is in those intense moments of creativity that God “shows up.” 

Now, before you say, “but God is always with us” and that is certainly true, I believe that it is in moments of inspiration and creativity that I feel God’s presence all the more. I believe that God wants us, his creations, to be creative for the joy it brings us and the joy our creations bring to others!

 In His article entitled “Art is a Universal Language,” John M. Eger states:  In creating art, consciously or not, artists are attempting to communicate at a powerful emotional level to those within their own culture. The best work transcends its cultural matrix and speaks directly to our common humanity. 

 My prayer for each of you that reads this is that you savor creativity when you encounter it, either your own or someone else’s, and that you sense God’s presence in the midst of it!