In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
In 1940, four boys were off on a new adventure when their dog disappeared into a hole. When they rescued the dog, the boys found themselves standing in an underground cave. Hoping to find buried treasure, the boys began to explore. Disappointed at their initial find, they discovered something much more valuable. Drawn and painted on the walls was ancient artwork. Believed to be created 20,000 years ago, these paintings depicted mostly large animals, such as horses, cattle, and bison, in colors of red, yellow, and black. The paintings were still incredibly vivid because the porous rock absorbed the paint. In parts of the cave where the rock was not as porous, instead of paint, there were etchings. Because everyday life was not depicted by these drawings, the cave was thought to be a religious place, a sacred space.
Tucked away in the picturesque southwest of France are the Lascaux caves discovered by those four boys almost 80 years ago. Today, the caves visited by tourists are actually copies of the original ones. Heat, humidity, and carbon dioxide produced by over a thousand daily visitors in the 1940’s began to destroy the paintings. Several exact replicas were made to allow visitors the opportunity to see this fascinating art. When I visited Lascaux IV recently, I was impressed by the paintings and etchings. I wondered who created these drawings and why. I mused that even primitive humans needed art.
God is a creative God. He spoke and creation came into being. With a word, He created the heavens and the earth. His powerful voice proclaimed the stars, moon, and sun into reality. He declared the plants and animals into existence. When He formed humankind, He pronounced His work to be very good.
When God created us, He made each of us unique, blessing us with gifts as distinct as we are. When we follow our dreams and passions and use our gifts to create, we reflect our heavenly Father. We mirror God’s creation and its beauty when we create.
Art nourishes our souls. It’s not optional. Even prehistoric humans needed art. We can’t live without it. When we take time to appreciate art and when we create it ourselves, we experience a range of emotions, from childlike wonder and curiosity to harmony and joy. The poet John Keats* said “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.” Joy, often so elusive, can be experienced if we slow down long enough to notice the beauty and art around us and perhaps to take the time for our own artistic endeavors.
Artwork doesn’t have to be paintings or etchings. What are you passionate about? What do you dream of doing? Take one tiny step in that direction. Carve out a few minutes to be creative. Use the talents and gifts God gave you. In the process, you will feed your soul and find joy. And just like the artwork in the Lascaux caves, the world will be a better place because of your art, your craft.
Father, I praise You for being the ultimate Creator. I thank You for Your creation. Unleash the gifts You have bestowed upon me that I might glorify You while creating beauty right where I am. May I experience the joy of art and the satisfaction of creating something that is uniquely beautiful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Text and photographs copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Iris from Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy, France.
*From Endymion Book I
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
If you are curious, here is a photo from the visitors’ center of an example of the cave paintings.
In 1940, four boys were off on a new adventure when their dog disappeared into a hole. When they rescued the dog, the boys found themselves standing in an underground cave. Hoping to find buried treasure, the boys began to explore. Disappointed at their initial find, they discovered something much more valuable. Drawn and painted on the walls was ancient artwork. Believed to be created 20,000 years ago, these paintings depicted mostly large animals, such as horses, cattle, and bison, in colors of red, yellow, and black. The paintings were still incredibly vivid because the porous rock absorbed the paint. In parts of the cave where the rock was not as porous, instead of paint, there were etchings. Because everyday life was not depicted by these drawings, the cave was thought to be a religious place, a sacred space.
Tucked away in the picturesque southwest of France are the Lascaux caves discovered by those four boys almost 80 years ago. Today, the caves visited by tourists are actually copies of the original ones. Heat, humidity, and carbon dioxide produced by over a thousand daily visitors in the 1940’s began to destroy the paintings. Several exact replicas were made to allow visitors the opportunity to see this fascinating art. When I visited Lascaux IV recently, I was impressed by the paintings and etchings. I wondered who created these drawings and why. I mused that even primitive humans needed art.
God is a creative God. He spoke and creation came into being. With a word, He created the heavens and the earth. His powerful voice proclaimed the stars, moon, and sun into reality. He declared the plants and animals into existence. When He formed humankind, He pronounced His work to be very good.
When God created us, He made each of us unique, blessing us with gifts as distinct as we are. When we follow our dreams and passions and use our gifts to create, we reflect our heavenly Father. We mirror God’s creation and its beauty when we create.
Art nourishes our souls. It’s not optional. Even prehistoric humans needed art. We can’t live without it. When we take time to appreciate art and when we create it ourselves, we experience a range of emotions, from childlike wonder and curiosity to harmony and joy. The poet John Keats* said “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.” Joy, often so elusive, can be experienced if we slow down long enough to notice the beauty and art around us and perhaps to take the time for our own artistic endeavors.
Artwork doesn’t have to be paintings or etchings. What are you passionate about? What do you dream of doing? Take one tiny step in that direction. Carve out a few minutes to be creative. Use the talents and gifts God gave you. In the process, you will feed your soul and find joy. And just like the artwork in the Lascaux caves, the world will be a better place because of your art, your craft.
Father, I praise You for being the ultimate Creator. I thank You for Your creation. Unleash the gifts You have bestowed upon me that I might glorify You while creating beauty right where I am. May I experience the joy of art and the satisfaction of creating something that is uniquely beautiful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photographs copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Iris from Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy, France.
*From Endymion Book I
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
If you are curious, here is a photo from the visitors’ center of an example of the cave paintings.
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