The Art Above All Arts

“The more I think it over, the more I think that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”

~Vincent van Gogh.

It could hardly be more poignant—though for an acclaimed genius of an artist to say such a thing; to feel it no less... confirms it, again, to our hearts: love is what life is truly about. And now it is truly art.

Love as artistry is passion. It’s the enveloping of the senses via the context of people—and the quantification of that art is in simply relating and succeeding in that venture: loving people.

What seems on the surface as something so simple is inordinately complex given the shape of our hearts—capable of so much, yet often delivering so little. Not that we’re down on ourselves; instead, we marvel at the potential and we strive for it.

Love is our goal. To become skilful at it!

As we fail in our endeavours of love, we learn. Much like the mistimed and poorly placed brush stroke or the misinformed adding or subtraction of colour, we remain open to the art form of love. So we took the wrong turn—so what. We wallow or marvel—we still haven’t mastered it. Yet, the next brush stroke and application of a colour beckons, even now; it beholds and subsumes us.

Love Never Fails

Unlike our overtures at love, which do flop from time to time, the trait of love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8a).

We remember this and we’re infused with hope, for we’re backed by the right endeavour, just the application was misapprehended. Being in the right game is half the battle won already.

Where we’ve betrayed love, love even contains us in it, allowing us the way back; smiling and encouraging, accepting us—love, like this, is perfect grace.

When love lasts longer than our impatience, our fear or our unbelief, love stands tall and it braces for whatever could come against it. It remains. Love always does.

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.