Temporary Art

“My Father is always doing his work. He is working right up to this day. I am working too."
-Jesus, John 5:17-18


This past Sunday after our morning gathering, I traveled across town to participate in the annual "Peace Walk" that our Delaware Interfaith group holds. It's co-hosted by my friends Charanjeet (a Sikh community leader) and Cynthia (a local pastor). Our small coalition of Muslim, Brahman, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Christian, and other friends walked down Main Street in the light rain with a banner promoting peace and understanding across faiths and backgrounds. 

We waved at people, and we found someone from a different tradition than our own to walk with on the way. We formed new friendships and talked about learning to understand each other and work for a more peaceful community together. 

When we arrived at our destination (a church parking lot at the other end of town), we stood outside and listened to several leaders give encouragement from their own faith traditions about living out peace and understanding. Every year, a local artist creates a large chalk mural on the ground in the parking lot for us to arrive at. The design promoted unity and understanding, as a stark contrast to the violent rhetoric and regular "other-ing" that is happening so often these days. 

Because of the light rain, the beautiful chalk image was beginning to blur and bleed as we stood there. Even after 15 minutes, one side of the mural had become difficult to read. I stared at it and thought to myself, "what beautiful art! It's a shame it wasn't painted there permanently." 

That's when I realized that it must be this way. You cannot paint peace permanently onto the ground. It will always be temporary. It must be recreated year after year. Month after month. Day after day. Moment after moment. 

A cease-fire agreement only stands when both governments continue to resist the urge to strike each day. Our gracious attitudes toward those who are different can only counter bigotry when we continue to be in relationship across dividing lines. It is so easy to convince ourselves that when we do the work of the moment, we achieve something permanent. But that is simply not true. Our world is not static, and our work cannot be either. 

Our values and our actions are chalk drawings. They can absolutely be beautiful and impactful and real. Yet they must be cared for and recreated and made again each day. Our connection with God, our character formation, our discipleship, our generosity, our love for others, our ability to understand and forgive each other, and our ability to break down barriers of hatred and disconnection that harm our shared humanity... these things must be practiced again each day in order to remain real and noticeable. 

This is why the work of salvation is not a momentary experience, but a lifelong journey. This is why peacemaking is never ending. This is why our love and good works of last year do not free us from the work of love this year. This is why life in Christ is not a destination, but an ongoing relationship. 

And if I'm honest in my exhaustion? It's frustrating that peace can fade away so easily in a moment, and for the selfishness and racism and greed in our world to wash away what we long to be permanent. But it's just a reminder that our work of moving toward each other and noticing the image of God in each other is a lifestyle, not a one-off task. The art needs to be made again each day. 

Jesus modeled for us a life of full commitment to the love of God each minute of his life. The only time that he declared that his work was complete was when he breathed his last faithful, enemy-loving breath.

The ultimate healing work of Jesus is indeed finished. But how we reflect that now in our lives is a daily art project. Thankfully, the creative spark that energizes our temporary art does not come from us alone. It comes from God. The strength to see the race to its end is given as we trust the Holy Spirit. Thank God for giving us the energy of the Spirit, because I know I'd never have the capacity otherwise. It's just too hard to keep drawing each time there's a rainstorm. 

So today, what lines have become faint that need to be retraced? What commitments to the love and goodness of Jesus need to be re-affirmed? What beauty is fading from the world that you can help to create once again? 

Friends, our labor is not in vain. God is using it to bring about a new creation. One day it will come in fullness. Today, it starts within each of us. Keep being a peacemaker, and keep letting Jesus bring peace in you. 

Lord, help my hands and my heart to not grow weary. 
Peace,
Keith