Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'EngleMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The humble artist will find this book a beautiful affirmation of his role in presenting truth to a world twisted by the lack of two things: imagination and vulnerability. I say "humble" because L'Engle emphasizes how the artist is serving the work, how truth emerges and the artist must write/paint/sculpt it.
L'Engle says, "The artist is someone who is full of questions, who cries them out in great angst, who discovers rainbow answers in the darkness and then rushes to canvas or paper. An artist is someone who cannot rest, who can never rest as long as there is one suffering creature in this world. Along with Plato's divine madness there is also divine discontent, a longing to find the melody in the discords of chaos, the rhyme in the cacophony, the surprised smile in time of stress or strain" (168).
I loved the connections she makes between faith and art, rendering the two virtually synonymous. Even though her writing is quite random in this book (a collection of thoughts rather unstructured), she argues adamantly for both obedience and discipline. Just as Christians are to release holds on this life and simultaneously practice self-control of themselves, artists must remember to serve the work by listening to truth while remaining disciplined with practice each day.
I need to read this book every year. ^^
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