Oscar Wilde once challenged the notion of art imitating life, proposing instead that life imitates art. He marveled at how a foggy London sky, unremarkable to most, could transform into a thing of beauty through an artist’s vision. But would a sunrise appear less magnificent if a poet had not described it? Would my wife’s green eyes be less stunning if I never mentioned them in print? Who could even find words to describe such beauty which must be seen to be believed. Life does not imitate art, life is art.
In my own journey as a writer, I have been blessed with moments of clarity, seeing God’s hand in everything. Beauty in creation when I take the time to notice. And when unpleasant, there is a lesson as in “the stove is hot, don’t touch it.” Without a London fog, how could we appreciate the bright Texas sky?
My latest scribbling is a fictional quest of a man seeking his long-lost great-uncle. On the way, he re-ignites his faith and finds more of his uncle in the mirror than he expected.
Certain moments are somewhat auto biographical, and I struggle to make them less so. Yet when I visit that world, I am consumed by the story, and it becomes personal. Experts say it will resonate with the reader, but I seem to be walking the same road as our hero.
On more than one occasion, the chapter I happen to be writing oddly echoes my state of my mind at that very moment. The wisdom he stumbles upon resonates in my heart. God is speaking to me through the very book I am writing. Life imitating art?
In storytelling, when a character addresses the audience directly, it is called “breaking the fourth wall”, like when Ferris Bueller tells the audience “It’s over, go home.” In the same vein, there is a scene where our hero opens a devotional that I had previously written. He says the author (which is me) seems to know his heart, like he’s writing his life as he lives it. Funny, because I “am” writing it. Art imitating life imitating art? Kind of a gray area like that London fog.
The only real truth is we were created in the image of God, and our talents, in whatever form they appear were intentionally infused into our being by His Mighty Hand. Some may use those talents in ways that would appear opposite of God’s intention, but He has granted us free will to choose our own paths.
I have no doubt words flow through my pen only by His Hand that you may hear what He has to say (if I could be so blessed to be entrusted with those words).
Art may imitate life or vice versa, but for me, it is most important that life imitates not only art, but heart, God’s heart. As long as that remains true, all else will fall into place.
If these words have been a blessing, pass them along to another who needs to hear.
Reach out to me at John@LiftedKeys.com and tell me your story. I would love to know where and in what way God has guided His words through my pen.
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