fat tim and the twins...

Now, now, now... don't let the title fool you. This is not about anything obscene, I was simply thinking up a random name and somehow big Tim and the Twins came to mind (think what you will).

Well, tonight I was heading home from a meeting with some friends from YNP summer project, KV(b) and Frank. I realized, that I really like them. I mean, I would seriously want to hang out with them if they didn't live in Bloomington, IN that is. KV(b) is actually an artist - one of the rare breed of artists who lack the inbred pretention that has somehow cunnived it's way into the fabric of the artistic community. It really is fun to actually dialogue with a fellow artist, and hear what they are thinking, especially when you respect that individual as both an artist and a christian. Frank is someone whom I've been very fortunate to get to know via KV(b), and he is every stereotype of the outdoorsy do it all guide all rolled up into one individual. He's not a burly guy, in fact he's quite skinny and lacking a beard, however he's very down to earth, funny and always seems to have something interesting to say. One thing that I respect the most about Frank is how genuine his love for KV(b) is.

Frank and KV(b) were only in town for a couple of days so I was pretty glad to see them tonight and chill with them. I always expect lively conversation so there was nothing particularly, out of the ordinary concerning the trialogue we all were having, but i was surprised at the topic -- "What happened to reaching the artist?"

I must admit this was right up my wheel house since I wrote my thesis on this very topic. But, what amazes me is how many other people out there feel the same way I do, and just don't know how to voice it. (Of course, I'm only just now learning how to voice it... but that's another story for another time.) As we talked it became so clear that artistically, creatively minded individuals have gotten cast off from the machine we call church! It's like they were the wiley old coot who only speaks wiley ol' coot and holds in his pockets a very important part of the conductor's map, but gets thrown off the train with map in tow because he can't understand nor communicate in the same way as others want him to communicate. Instead an essential part of the operation is thrown out entirely, so that the status quo can be maintained, instead of trying to improve the general situation through some real work in building bridges of understanding between Ol' coot and Train language.

In this scenario, no one is going anywhere, the Ol coot is off the train without a ride, and the train keeps heading down a track that will eventually end and derail without the necessary info from the Ol coot! We seem to do a wonderful job of affirming that the musical arts are very good, and that everything having to with musical worship is the essence of worship itself, but why does worship have to become so constrained?

God chose artisan's not just workers to build his arc of the covenant in Exodus. They crafted finely engraved statues of Gold and a room set to the exact specifications of the most holy god! Is it then right for us to dismiss the workmen of God for the sake of a mass, cowed into groups allowing them to all think and react the same way under the same conditions! ANyway, it's late and I work tomorrow. Plus, my eyelids are no longer functioning. I believe my body is breakings dowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn.