Over the past 7 years I have been able to observe the works of the Café Forever workers in action. In the beginning there were many difficulties; clashes of personality as we embraced the challenge of knowing each other. These clashes are quite common among people with a similar passion - and the amazing thing is, while passion tends to create the clashes, it is that same passion that helps overcome the different natures and methods of work. Having recently read the Book of Acts in the Bible, and in the past, the Voice of The Martyrs, it seems right to give an account of the works of the workers. Both books would express how the Spirit of God moved the people to unconditional and unselfish sacrificial love and I hope that this brief note would do the same.
It seems to me that missionaries are artists - relationship artists. I notice how they are truly creative in their methods of addressing human problems. An artist will think about what it is they are going to create, look at what materials they have, and then carefully paint their emotion,their soul, their being into the canvas. Some artists' canvasses are blank white sheets and then they can do what they want. Others use recycled materials or dirty old walls - take Banksy as an example! I think a child is a bit like a blank white sheet, and the further on in life he goes, the more distressed the canvas becomes. No child is entirely blank however, because no matter what perfection your birth no child has a perfect upbringing - as a parent I admit it. As a child grows so the influences outside grow - some for the better and some for the worse.
So if each person that is met by the missionary is a canvas - some more distressed than others, it is the missionary (artists) pleasure to see that canvas transformed. Each one has their own specific methods and techniques. They are often meeting together to discuss the intricacies of their canvasses. Their subject matter is always the same, it's how to get that imprinted on the canvas that is the challenge. And each of these artists spend considerable hours researching the Master and talking with Him, to see and understand how He goes about transforming. In the process of working with the canvas it is almost as if artist and canvas intertwine into one - the artist becomes the canvas and the canvas becomes the artist. At other times they go to him when their own distress has caught up with them and their creativity is spent. Together it is hoped that the collected works will become part of the most beautiful gallery ever. How wonderful it is to see distressed recycled materials transformed into a work of beauty.
But what techniques! Personal time with canvasses take their toll - some of these artists will never marry, they will never own a nice little place by the sea, and the days when they are no longer able to lift a brush, they may be comforted in the knowledge that they have a small room on a noisy council estate. Part of that personal time has been shopping - purchasing special paint to apply to the canvas - a gift to each canvas that it would especially appreciate. 'Gifts open the door to the giver' and the correct paint has a wonderful affect on a canvas and it seems almost standard among these artists. Sometimes small amounts of the paint is applied over several canvasses all at once! Tired and lifeless they become interesting and exciting and other artists want to find out what is going on - sometimes they come near and then back off because they fear the colour! But oh what a joy to be covered in paint!
I see these artists listening to the canvas, understanding the canvas, and working the canvas. Their subject matter drives them forward, they are passionate about the work and stay up late at night, eiether coaxing the paint into the canvas or preparing some or other form of fresh guache to add to the next days work. Sometimes they are sculptors and have to cut away unnecessary growths, or dance instructors encouraging dance - whatever they are, they are Masters in the order of Rembrandt and Paul. Rembrandt had a special technique called chiaroscuro - letting light draw the eye into the picture. Paul called it sharing the gospel.
Carol carefully crafts a gift. Marlene makes her home available. Tom paints the playground. Together they work to total transformation. These may seem like trifles - I assure it is not all that they do, but these are some small ways in which a Great Artist makes a boring canvas beautiful.
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| Carol getting resourced! |
So if each person that is met by the missionary is a canvas - some more distressed than others, it is the missionary (artists) pleasure to see that canvas transformed. Each one has their own specific methods and techniques. They are often meeting together to discuss the intricacies of their canvasses. Their subject matter is always the same, it's how to get that imprinted on the canvas that is the challenge. And each of these artists spend considerable hours researching the Master and talking with Him, to see and understand how He goes about transforming. In the process of working with the canvas it is almost as if artist and canvas intertwine into one - the artist becomes the canvas and the canvas becomes the artist. At other times they go to him when their own distress has caught up with them and their creativity is spent. Together it is hoped that the collected works will become part of the most beautiful gallery ever. How wonderful it is to see distressed recycled materials transformed into a work of beauty.
But what techniques! Personal time with canvasses take their toll - some of these artists will never marry, they will never own a nice little place by the sea, and the days when they are no longer able to lift a brush, they may be comforted in the knowledge that they have a small room on a noisy council estate. Part of that personal time has been shopping - purchasing special paint to apply to the canvas - a gift to each canvas that it would especially appreciate. 'Gifts open the door to the giver' and the correct paint has a wonderful affect on a canvas and it seems almost standard among these artists. Sometimes small amounts of the paint is applied over several canvasses all at once! Tired and lifeless they become interesting and exciting and other artists want to find out what is going on - sometimes they come near and then back off because they fear the colour! But oh what a joy to be covered in paint!
I see these artists listening to the canvas, understanding the canvas, and working the canvas. Their subject matter drives them forward, they are passionate about the work and stay up late at night, eiether coaxing the paint into the canvas or preparing some or other form of fresh guache to add to the next days work. Sometimes they are sculptors and have to cut away unnecessary growths, or dance instructors encouraging dance - whatever they are, they are Masters in the order of Rembrandt and Paul. Rembrandt had a special technique called chiaroscuro - letting light draw the eye into the picture. Paul called it sharing the gospel.
Carol carefully crafts a gift. Marlene makes her home available. Tom paints the playground. Together they work to total transformation. These may seem like trifles - I assure it is not all that they do, but these are some small ways in which a Great Artist makes a boring canvas beautiful.
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