• VIEWFINDER: Experiencing Beauty with God

• SIGNPOSTS: Anointed for Stewardship

• CAIRNS: Help from Hidden Brain

We were inspired during our visit to the Crystal Bridges Art Museum in Arkansas to see art in a new perspective. This amazing art gallery and civic enterprise came from the vision of billionaire Alice Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune of her father. It opened in 2011 as the first endowed museum in decades in the United States. Skeptics noted Bentonville, Arkansas was not a world-renowned art destination. But they had no idea of her vision or the energy of the community. The Museum has grown to over 200,000 SF with over $1B in assets and four satellite institutions. Partnerships have been forged with the Louvre and other world-class institutions. Perhaps even more significant is the way minority voices and inclusive values stand at the forefront of the works on display. This work of art has been a driver to transform Bentonville with new people, businesses, and education. And all in Arkansas!

Internationally famed artist Makoto Fujimura believes art is part of God’s work in the world. He wrote, “We find our creative identity in God… the Great Artist, and we are God’s artists…. In Christ we are journeying toward ultimate wholeness, integration, and well-being.” He has a dream for Christians to promote a generative culture, which he defines as “originating new life… when we are generative, we draw on creativity to bring into being something fresh and life giving.” inspiring people to meaningful action, leading toward wholeness and harmony.”[1]

“The Bubble” by Harriet Frishmuth throbs with exuberance and delight in life. Progressive theology teaches that God pervades every entity in the universe to nudge, promote, and lure choices that bring the highest good. In God we find the dynamic, continuous source of goodness, creativity, love, and justice within the universe. We can join God in this generative culture. We don’t need to paint, dance, write, or sing—though those are wonderful media. Each of us can promote beauty in supporting a needy friend, joining a community action group, making love with a partner, showing a path to forgiveness for a victim, or offering prayer to create something special with God. This is our sacred, exuberant dance with God that goes far beyond even a world-class museum to build a world of life-giving hope.

[1] Makoto Fujimura, “Culture Care.” How to Heal our Divides, Brian Allain, 2021

Presidential elections often focus on “pocketbook issues.” It is true that skills of Stewardship to manage the resources of an entire nation take anointed wisdom. Read my entire Signposts blog to examine what has been and would be done in the years ahead by these candidates.

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“Hidden Brain” is an informative podcast that has given me many great ideas. Each week it probes topics that bring insight for emotional adjustment, relationships, and physical health. Host Shankar Vedantam is a journalist who has covered behavioral issues for years with prestigious news groups and NPR. His passion is to educate us on the behaviors of individuals and groups that shape our lives. Recent episodes include: “You’re Not the Boss of Me!” “When Did Marriage become so Hard?” and “The Gift of Other People.”

Your well-being will improve with “Hidden Brain!” You can find it on all podcast platforms