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An artist is revealed in the work he creates…and in the abundance of the work he created.

I am sitting on the beach this evening, watching the swells roll in toward me. Each wave builds as it approaches, ascending, taking shape, deep greens below sweeping upward into translucent aquamarine. A sculpture in motion, curling forth like shavings from a jade carving. The sheer elegance is enough to take my breath away. The wave I’m fixed upon crashes to the sand like a work of art toppling from its pedestal, but before I can feel the loss, another is rushing to take its place, sweeping upward, forward, utterly mesmerizing beauty. Then comes another, then another, and another, in an unending processional.

I look down. Scattered at my feet lie a thousand shells, delicate, intricate, the work of a jeweler. An artist with very small tools and exceptional eyesight (and skill). If all this is the work of an artist’s hand, what does it tell us about the artist(‘s heart)? Creation is epic and intimate. He is epic and intimate. Everywhere around me, an obsession with beauty(…and) great attention (paid) to detail.

But most of all, I am thunderstruck by the abundant generosity strewn around, constantly rolling in. It’s as if someone took the family silver and ran down the beach, tossing handfuls here and there like a madman” (or ‘in reckless abandon…but better’).

From John Eldredge’s Beautiful Outlaw book and small group series Participant’s Guide, pg. 13. (letters and words in parenthesis added by me for clarity and/or refinement.)