The Colors of the Spirit

There are certain people who go through the world with a sense of awe. These people are able to see past the mundane and find beauty in almost everything. They are captivated by the intersection of lines and shadows. They do not see just a building or a painting or a sunset. They see a symphony of colors interacting in a unique way to create transient masterpieces.

I do not. I want to, but I just don’t see it.

I have very good friends who are artists. Sometimes hanging out with them is an exercise in humility. The simple question “what color is that?” becomes fraught with danger. No, the color is not white. It is a gradual progression of blue to yellow, a mixture of a warmer to cooler color. Oh no, white would never do because of how the light reflects off the pigment. It has to be rose. Or orange. And then one must take into account the surrounding objects and how the light reflects off of them and how the eye perceives the colors interacting. I haven’t even begun to contemplate lines and shadows.

Sometimes I think they find our conversations about art slightly disappointing. After all, all I can contribute is “that’s pretty”. Hardly intellectually stimulating. And there is no doubt that they appreciate art much more than I do. Part of it is a natural ability to see the details. But I think most of it hinges on training. My friends have spent years of their lives studying and perfecting their craft. Is it any wonder that they should be better at it than I am? And because I have so much respect for their hard work and dedication I don’t doubt or contradict them. I see white, pure and simple. But the painting is pretty. The process obviously works. Who am I to argue the details?

But somehow this respect does not carry over when talking about our Creator. I admit that I do not ‘see’ much of what is going on around me because I have not trained my eye to do so. I admit that there are heights of beauty that I will never achieve or truly appreciate because my friends make it look easy. But that does not mean I have the right to disrespect their hours of lonely and frustrating toil.

God is continually working through nature. When we try to control nature instead of acting as stewards we are trying to control an aspect of God. God is continually trying to work through us. It should be easy. It looks easy. But at the end of the day we look at it and not only call it “white” but disbelieve that there is anything else there. It takes a certain kind of pride, of arrogance, that would be offensive if applied to any other part of our lives. And yet many persist in their stubborn belief that God does not work in the world, through humanity, or that God does not exist at all.

Have we even tried to see God? Have we even tried to see what is right in front of our noses?

If you would like to see proof that artists know what they are talking about then all you need to do is look at an amazing piece of art. If you would like to see proof of God working to make humanity more beautiful then take a look at the saints. Look at how love is perfected in them. Look at how their simple existence creates beauty. Look at how each saint is a unique work of art, no two the same, each composed of different colors, shades and lines, and even shadows and darkness.

Not everybody can become a traditional artist, but with the grace of God we are all called to be the embodiment of beauty. It might take years of training. People might not always see it. Some might deny that true beauty even exists. But God has made you beautiful. You were made in His image and likeness.

If you want to know God then ask. God is a giddy Creator and wants to show you everything about everything. Not sure about the existence of God? Then seek truth. God is everything that is true. Do you think that truth is relative? That white is simply white in spite of all the evidence? Search for Love. You were made to love and be loved. And in loving you will find and embody beauty. And there, in the place where you saw only darkness, you will find God. And God will say: “Why were you so afraid for so long? Where you see self hatred, I see only healing.”

Search for the colors of your spirit. There you will find God.