About Artists 4 (Artists are COMPULSIVE!)

Artists are: COMPULSIVE!

In its best definition passion, not compulsion or obsession, is that gift from God, that trait bestowed upon artists, so they may become skilled at what they are doing.  We are encouraged throughout the Psalms, to ply our craft as musicians and artists with excellence, to play skillfully.  God’s purpose in our passion for excellence is that He may be glorified all the more.  Many of us turn inward in pursuit of excellence and become compulsive or obsessive with our musical skills and abilities.  Perhaps even shutting ourselves off from the world, simply to become better at what we do. I’m not saying forsake practice.  We have to practice to get where we are going.  

Everyone knows the old story about violinist Jascha Heifitz being hailed by a tourist on a New York street.  The tourist asks Heifitz, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” To which Heifitz replies, without breaking stride, “Practice, practice, practice.”  We have to practice.  Practice is important, in fact it is obviously critical, as Heifitz knew and further noted, “If I don’t practice one day, I know it.  If I don’t practice two days, my critics know it.  If I don’t practice for three days, everyone knows it.”

But there is a time and a place for practice and for concentrated study.  We should be dedicated and disciplined, but God’s desire for excellence doesn’t have to become an all-consuming quest for perfection.  It is not God’s best for us to shut ourselves off from humanity as a lifestyle because we are consumed with “our” art.  Some of the worst “best players” I know are barely functional in routine social settings.  I have struggled with that myself.  It is a struggle worth fighting and overcoming.  Getting alone to work on your stuff is important.  Jesus certainly went away at times by Himself, but he always came back, and He wasn’t all worked up about it either, you know like, “I can’t fool with those five thousand people right now, tell them to call Falafel Hut, I’m busy in the studio”.  Jesus knew when it was time to get alone.  He got alone and got down to business, and He came back refreshed, recharged and ready to minister to the needs of people.  We need to remind ourselves regularly that people are what ministry is all about.  It’s because of God’s love for others that He placed gifts, talents and abilities within each of us, that He might be glorified and lifted up, that all men might be drawn to Him.  We do well to remember: He gave us gifts because He loved someone else.