All you soul-searchin' people, C'MON!

This morning's worship service was an amalgamation of songs, quotes, and stories presented as examples of how to encounter God in creation, creativity, and reason. It was quite good.

A few really stuck out to me. Anathallo's "Holiday at the Sea" was gorgeous. The kind of song that builds and builds until you're choked up. So awesome.



Delta Spirit "People C'mon" - also great.




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Letter to a Young Artist

The artist's life, and what an artist is . . . that is very curious. Relatively few
people know why an artist acts in this way or that. As far as I know, the
word means "I am seeking, I am striving, I am in with all my heart—always
seeking without absolutely finding."

I think that everything that is really good and beautiful—of inward moral,
spiritual and sublime beauty in men and their works—comes from God, and
that all that is bad and wrong in men and in their works is not of God. In my
experience, the best way to know God is to love many things.

One must love with a lofty and serious intimate sympathy, with strength,
with intelligence—for therein lies the true strength. Whosoever loves much
performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well
done.

One must always try to know deeper, better and more. That leads to God—
that leads to unwavering faith.

You'll find out that the artist's life can be supremely difficult . . . but what
would art, and what would life, be without difficulties? For the sake of art, I
will—if I must—put up with being always in difficulties. After all, one is not in
the world for one's own comfort.

In fact, I've learned that one must never trust the occasion when one is
without difficulties. Whoever lives sincerely and encounters much trouble
and disappointment, but is not bowed down by them, is worth more than one who has always sailed before the wind and has only known relative
prosperity.

And don't forget—great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of
small things brought together. First the foundation, then the roof follows in
time. My motto is, "Not a day without a line." By writing, reading, working
and practicing daily, perseverance will lead you to a good end.

I suppose that for a sower of God's word—as I hope to be—as well as for a
sower of the seed in the fields, each day will bring enough of its own evil,
and the earth will produce many thorns and thistles. Let us continue to help
each other, and ask for brotherly love. The battle is but short, yet it is
worthwhile to be sincere. If many are sincere and firm, the whole period
becomes good.

Let us keep courage and try to be patient and gentle, and not mind being
eccentric. Make distinction between good and evil. There is something
greater in the future . . . my conscience tells me so.

To those who make this grave and moving journey, my best wishes and
sympathy.

- Vincent van Gogh