I take great pleasure in enjoying beautiful photos and paintings. Sure, there are those who would take photos or do paintings in order to make a fortune. But there are a lot more who do so just to capture the perfect moment, to make one fleeting instance last forever, indeed to catch a glimpse of eternity.
I love listening to music to soothe my soul and relive memories. Sure, there are those who would compose music to come up with that hit that will bring them fame and fortune. But there are a lot more who make music simply to capture the melody that lifts their heart and soul, to echo the tune that the rest of creation is singing, indeed to catch the songs that the heavenly choirs are singing.
I love reading poetry and good literature. Sure, there are those who would write with an eye to making the bestseller list that will bring them millions in adoring fans and even more millions in book revenues. But there are a lot more who love to string words together just to express what they are feeling deep inside, to tell the moving tale of love or betrayal among people, indeed to write but just a piece of the great eternal love story.
Art is not about money like business is. It is about giving expression to what is deeply and truly human within us. Business is not about what is deeply and truly human within us. It is about functionality, productivity and return on investment. Business ties us, our bodies, to the ground. The arts lift us, our spirits, up to the skies. I have my body to exist in the world. But I am more than just a body.
The rich man said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house — for I have five brothers — that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'”
Luke 16:19-31