What is Hidden Art?

On a lighter note - Calvin and Hobbes on creativity:

The Hidden Art of Homemaking, Chapter 2 - "What is Hidden Art?

Edith Schaeffer defines "hidden art" as the artistic expression of beauty in our ordinary, daily living. I like that. It sounds doable. 

But before I embrace an artistic mindset, I must realize my limits. God is infinite and limitless, and He can create worlds out of nothing with just His word. We human beings, on the other hand, are finite and limited. We can't create everything, but we can create something because we are made the image of the Creator. He has not only given us the capacity to create; He has given us diversity in our capacities. I am limited in my talents in certain areas, but those may be the very areas where you are gifted. Maybe you can paint, and she can write, and I can cook. We shine individually like facets of a diamond, but together we express brilliance. This is why community is important.

Another thing I must consider is that creative pursuits will take time, energy, and a conscious discipline. I must decided what to do and what to leave undone. There are things that can't be left undone, like taking care of the basic needs of my family. If I neglect the laundry and no one has clean underwear, my floral arrangement may become a source of irritation rather than a source of delight. I can, however, avoid wasting time on meaningless pursuits and instead use that time fruitfully. It's all about priorities, or as Augustine called it, "ordo amoris," the ordering of our affections.**

I don't have to look farther than my own kids to understand the diversity of talents. Elizabeth fits the conventional image of an artist. She loves to draw, sculpt, paint, and work with her hands. She also likes to write poetry. Daniel likes to write, so he expresses creativity through words. He also loves to build things out of wood, and he's creative in problem solving. On the surface, creativity seem more apparent in these two kids..

If you asked Jonathan, he would probably say that he is the least artistic person he knows. That might be true if we went by the conventional description. However, he is very creative in his own way. He likes to write computer programs, so his tools are not paint brushes and palettes but lines of code. When he first started programming, he created a rudimentary video game which depicted a giant bacteria chasing a stick man. That took creativity. He was so excited that he could develop something interesting by writing lines of code. He has since learned that he can use his programming skills for more than just creating games. One summer, he worked with a mentor on a bioinformatics project and developed a program for visualizing DNA sequences. Edith says that pursuing science in artistic ways is also a hidden art, and that encourages me. I will make sure to support Jonathan in the areas of creativity where he shines.

Speaking of computers, I get an uncomfortable feeling when my kids have had too much screen time. That's when I do a reality check: is their screen time spent consuming or creating? If it's spent consuming (playing video games or watching movies), then too much screen time can eat up one's soul. However, if they are on the computer creating (writing, composing, photography, programming), then they are investing their time and energy in constructive ways. I need to keep an eye on my own computer usage, too. It's been fun experimenting with Pinterest, but I am aware that a virtual world does not replace my real one.

Rather than daydream about developing our talents in the future, Edith implores us to use our talents in the here and now. By using our talents in practical ways today, we will enrich other people's lives, develop those talents, and express who God made us to be - a creative creature in His image. I have always wanted to take classes to learn how to become a better writer, but rather than focus on the "someday," I can write as well as I can right now, grow in skill while practicing writing, and write with the hope that someone will be enriched by my words. Perhaps most importantly, I can represent my God who created and communicated with words. 

My kids are pursuing creativity, but am I? Well, Edith describes the stiffness a person feels when he first has a cast removed. At first, there is an inflexibility of the joints and limbs, but that gradually decreases over time. The person eventually forgets he ever wore a cast and begins to enjoy a freedom of movement, resulting in confidence, fulfillment, and satisfaction. Something that was idle for so long is now alive again.

Her words struck a chord in me. The last seven years have been difficult ones with a string of family crises. I put my creative pursuits on hold because my family needed me in other practical ways, and I don't regret a single one of those sacrifices. One of the trials that spanned nearly two years involved major damage to our home, but last summer God blessed us with its restoration. I am thankful to have ceilings and walls again, because for a long time we lived with gaping holes everywhere. God timed it perfectly for me to read this book at this moment in my life. I am eager to practice the "hidden art" of bringing beauty into our lives again. I sense that God will use His truths about creativity as another step to restoring our home, and in the process, He will restore my soul as well. 

** I first heard Augustine's term from Cindy, who aptly named her blog, "Ordo Amoris." It is a phrase that has sunken deep roots in my heart.

[Read more thoughts on this chapter from The Hidden Art of Homemaking Book Club,  hosted by Cindy at Ordo Amoris.]

"He restores my soul." Psalm 23:3