“Every
child is an artist. The problem is how
to remain an artist once he grows up.” Pablo Picasso
Although the
attribution of this quote to Picasso is in doubt, the truth is not. I was talking with a friend about Shubham
Banerjee, a 13-year-old boy who invented a Braille printer using his Lego
Mindstorm system. He made it, he said,
because he read that Braille printers cost around $2,000 and he thought it
would be nice if blind people could have a more affordable way to write notes
and shopping lists. His Lego version
cost about $350. The people at Intel
were so impressed they are funding development of a commercially available
product.*
My friend remarked
he did it because no one told him he couldn’t. And that gets
back to the Picasso remark. When is it
that we cease being artists? There is a
Talmudic commentary on a poem by Isabella McCullough that reads:
Every child is a poet.
Every child is an artist.
Every child is a philosopher.
Every child is a theologian.
Every child is an actor.
Every child is a dancer.
Every child is a nature-lover.
Every child is an explorer.
Every child is a comedian.
Every child is a skeptic.
Every child is a teacher.
Every child is a boundary pusher.
Every child is a truth speaker
Again, when do we
cease being poets or dancers or boundary pushers or truth speakers? Sometimes we can remember. Someone told us we didn’t
do that activity very well. Someone told
us it wasn’t appropriate.
Someone told us boys (or girls) “didn’t
do that.” Or they laughed
at us, or ignored us.
Even now, we might
hold back from doing something because we are afraid to do so. We are afraid to us our God-given
abilities. We might be called to preach
or teach, to praise God with music or writing.
For years I was afraid to sing in public because my parents told me I
had an ugly voice. They lied. I loved to sing, and when people told me I
had a good voice, it was a joy to share it in church.
Trust your
heart. Spread your wings. Be the poet, artist, dancer, teacher, singer,
truth speaker you were meant to be. God
will be there guiding and supporting your every effort.
“We
have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift
is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving,
then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give
encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it
diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8
Dear Creator
God: We thank you that you have made us
so wonderfully. Help us be like
children, confident in the gifts with which you have blessed us, and reflect
your grace and glory to the world. In
Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.
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