Admiring Life as Art
Dipping our figurative paintbrushes into more colorful hues results in brilliance and observing life's detailed surroundings - helping us to better use our time on our phones or computers.
In today's society we can all agree that we are significantly glued to technology, more specifically…our phones. The fear and anxiety that we feel when we leave our "cell" on the kitchen counter or nightstand is sometimes overwhelming with the thought that we might miss an incoming text, email or social post.
What would happen if I didn’t respond immediately? What if I miss an important update?
We have become very dependent on our smartphones, and in the process may have lost sight of our surroundings or making meaningful conversation with new personal connections or those who matter the most - our family. So, how can we balance our time to include technology in ways that are necessary and beneficial?
Painting a Masterpiece
I love relating life to art. Not just because I simply love and admire art (and creativity), but because God’s beauty that is all around us is painted so intricately and with such attention to detail with His beautiful and loving hands. If we don’t stop to admire life’s “art”, we ultimately ignore the gifts we are given in every moment of every day. Life is art, painted for us each day uniquely.
So how can we take in these masterpieces all while the distractions exist of social media, and technology as a whole? We can pick up the paint brush and continue to add to the masterpiece in front of us every moment of every day.
You are probably thinking - Christina, what in the world does that mean? Let me explain.
Becoming an Artist
As any artist will agree, art is subjective and what is beautiful to one artist may seem dull or mundane, or weird, to another. This also goes for the art enthusiast or buyer. What may be deemed as a masterpiece may seem worthless to another. What sets great art apart is interpreting the message, or meaning behind a piece of art and appreciating the beauty of each creation. With every piece of art, there is always a why.
To relate to this, technology and social media can take away the why behind our decisions, surroundings, opinions and overall life. We lose time observing all angles and beauty to something when we are told what to think or believe by scrolling or spending precious time waiting for an immediate response or checking for more. It becomes blinding even more with images rendered as fake, or altered in ways that show a reality not of our own. A true appreciation for the beauty of God’s work that unfolds in front of us is missed when we lose our sense of individualism - we slowly unknowingly begin thinking and relying on the thoughts and ideas of others. So much of our time is spent scrolling when the world around us is full of wonder, joy and things that we can use and learn from. Our lives are full of beauty and we must learn to balance and treat it as such.
Using Technology for Good
So, in writing this post I was conflicted due to the fact that the start of it may seem negative or putting down technology as a whole. In my line of business I rely on technology for almost all that I do. Email, social media posting/researching, and graphic design programs all consume so much of my time during the work day. So why focus on this topic or bring it to light in this way? I feel it’s so imperative for us all to understand that we can use this digital age that continues to evolve and grow for the greater good. We can show the world the light that there is in the intricate artwork of our lives, mixing and creating unique colors for all to see.
St. John Paul II once said that “we are an Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” I read this quote recently and I was reminded about how profound that statement is and relatable to this topic I’m writing about. We can relate this quote not only to St. John Paul II’s new evangelization in bringing laity together in new and exciting ways to evangelize the faith and focus on the future of the Church, but also to this time we are in right now during Lent. You can physically feel that Lent is a dark time with darker hues surrounding us - a time when we are meant to suffer like Christ and live more like him challenged by our world and to feel the weight of our crosses asking for forgiveness for our sins. Easter comes after forty long days and opens up the skies and lets light into a dark world showing us the Father’s ultimate love for us and for His son raising him into heaven. We feel these feelings and see the world for what it is during Lent - painted in purples, blacks and greys as we patiently await for the colors to shine through again. This reminds us the beauty of our surroundings, as we paint more vivdly through forgiveness knowing we have a chance just as Christ, to enter into paradise.
Appreciating All Hues
I challenge you as you read to pick up a brush, and paint. Observe the moments that make up the background of our existence in all of the beauty that encompasses them. The physical moments can be brought to light and shared with the world in ways never imagined before technology existed. Take pictures, observe and write everything down, share the light of the world with those who may need it or feel lost in the darkness. The amazing parts of technology are here for us to use to our advantage - we can seek the masses and pass on the work of Christ and those before us when technology didn’t exist. I say all of these things with the underlying truth in which I will always stand firm - take time to be present and silent. It’s in those moments phone-free that we find the most beautiful moments in life and when the Lord speaks to us. Then, after the time passes and you soak it all in like a sponge, we can use time effectively to spread the good news to all across the globe.