Tip of My Iceberg

I love vibrant art. It sparks and ignites the passion of my imagination. Leonard da Vinci painted the most famous painting in the world, the “Mona Lisa”, as well as “The Last Supper”, both depicting emotion that has been discussed for centuries.

I truly enjoy Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”. The bold colors, the tempestuous movement, the dramatic uniqueness of his style, and the tragedy of his life give him recognition in the world by those who love his work and feel the heaviness of his life. We had a framed poster of this painting for years, and I lost it.

The real picture? It’s worth over $100 million dollars today. Not something easily lost.

Art is a beautiful reflection of the story of an individual. When and how they lived, what captured their minds and imaginations, what drove them to create. You can see the messiness or order of a mind and the serenity or passion of a heart.

Many works of art are seen as masterpieces. They hang in places of prominence in museums around the world. People flock consistently to admire the works of artists that have been dead for hundreds of years because their paintings are considered valuable.

So much art is overlooked by the masses, never seen or valued as a true masterpiece. Nonetheless, people create them out of the fullness of their hearts wanting to share their interpretation of life or a person that leads them to such visual expression.

What makes a masterpiece? Van Gogh was poor his whole life and wasn’t recognized for his genius till after he’d died. Da Vinci had four stepmothers and twelve half-siblings. He was unschooled and persecuted when he was a young man, which weighed heavily on him as he was very private. His brilliance wasn’t fully appreciated till after he died when his many notebooks were discovered.

We put value on works of art because of recognition and popular opinion. If everyone had thought Mona Lisa an ugly woman, would she be worth what she is today? Did Van Gogh’s lifestyle and depression affect his popularity? Or did it add to the mysteriousness of his profile?

We are all masterpieces. Personally and purposefully. We’ve been crafted carefully and intentionally by a loving Father who had a reason for creating each of us.

Many of us have had Van Gogh and da Vinci types of lives, wounded and hurt by others, not seen or valued by those we care about, misunderstood, and marginalized by a world that is not willing to be bothered by the likes of us.

We matter to God. He created us with passion and delight, enjoying us in every way possible. And He longs to have a relationship with each of us that reflects that tenderness.

In a world where a set value is placed on us according to our achievements and how we manage our image socially, it’s easy to feel like just another somebody with limited talents.

But God.

He has made us from a heart of compassion and love that reflects His nature. He paid the price for us as well.

That makes us priceless.