Pain, Art, and Worship

C.S. Lewis said that pain is “God’s megaphone” for getting our attention and for getting through to us. There is nothing that will expose the absolutes in life – especially the absolute core of a person –more than pain. Someone being tortured will not pretend or goof around; what they believe and what they are made of will be immediately exposed when faced with physical pain and torment. The same is true of psychological and emotional pain. There is no pretending in pain; there is no hiding the truth; pain is real and refuses to be ignored.

Pain is also something we run from. As humans, it seems to be built into our DNA to run towards comfort. We avoid situations that make us uncomfortable and we go to great lengths to ensure our maximum comfort and well-being. And yet pain still confronts us because it cannot be avoided; no matter how much we try to pursue comfort we will inevitably face pain. What happens to all of our efforts at that moment? They become a mere puff of air. I would say we do not know what we lose through our obsession with comfort and aversion to pain. Maybe an example would be helpful. If you picture life as the keel of a ship cutting through the ocean waters, you could say that the water to the right of the keel represents pain, while the water to the left represents joy. Life to the fullest (abundant life) is found at the vanguard (the very front of the keel where it slices the water). To the degree that we seek to withdraw our lives from the vanguard in order to avoid pain, we also diminish our ability to experience joy. It is not for us to decide what will come our way in life. We must say with Job, “Will we accept the good things from God and not the bad?” The bible is full of language that implies that we are to not run away from pain and suffering. In fact, the Bible even goes so far as to tell us to run toward and rejoice in suffering and pain. This is very different from our natural mindset. It takes a miracle to turn our comfort-addictions around and make us into people that will lay down our lives.

* * *

There are many arguments as to what the true meaning of art is. Some say that art is nothing more than the expression of something in the artist. Some say that art is nothing more than a perception or a thought. Some say that art is nothing. But I believe that art is a representation of a truth; a shadow or a projection onto a greater reality. In a way all of life is like this. It is all pointing to something, all leading somewhere. Art speaks to us because it represents truth to us. It cannot be only the projection of a thought from the artist; that would be meaningless to the one who sees the art. Art exposes the reality and calls out to something deep that we may not even recognize; but we are drawn to it and taken in. Life is kind of like a hologram. A hologram is a projection of light that allows an image to be seen in three dimensions. Every section of that projection, however, contains an imprint or image of the entire picture. The things in life that call out to us, the things we admire –we don’t realize most of them –are imprints of the whole; imprints of what is really true in this universe. The way trees function, the properties of water, the inward parts of the cell, the fact that I need food to survive, seventy-five thousand people packed in a stadium to watch a football game, the relationship between a husband and wife –all shadows of reality and truth. They point to reality –namely, GOD –which is why they are attractive to us. If there is no truth, there is no art.

All of things in life –whether it be a sunset, a painting, or cancer –are meant to point our eyes towards the Creator and giver of life; this is Worship. Worship is the centering of our hearts’ affection and attention upon the true and only God who does all things for His glory. We were made for this –to be captivated by the beauty of the Lord. That is what the Bible means when it says “The heavens are telling the glory of God.” All things bear the fingerprints of God in order that we might see Him and praise Him for all that He is. Pain exposes our true selves; and yet in Christ we are freed to hold onto the truth of all that He is for us. Pain only makes plain the reality that Christ is all we have and is all we need. It draws us away from self that is so complacent and distracted when it’s comfortable. Beauty and art draw us into the truth that a Creative God has made things that no other being could have conceived; He invites us to acknowledge Him and discover what life is really meant to be. Oh, that all of life would be worship! That we could be free to see His goodness in everything, without the stains of sin a pride to take away the crisp, clarity of God’s signature. But the hope that we have –and it is a hope that is sure –is that heaven will be a place where sin does not stain. In heaven we will be set free from seeing through this “glass dimly” and we will finally see “face to face” and “know, even as we are fully known.” Eternity in heaven will be an eternity of worship. This does not mean an endless repetition of “Lord I lift your name on high;” it means an unending, unimaginable eternity face to face with the God who made beauty and truth and made us to enjoy Him forever. May He hasten the day that our hearts find their home.