The Artistic Life

Being an artist takes courage.

Sometimes I wonder why artists go to the trouble they do-expecially if what they are doing is not long lasting.

The wonderful artists that do sand sculptures see them washed out into the sea.

A number of years ago when I was in Bern, Switzerland I saw wonderful, intricate and beautiful chalk drawings. These drawings were washed away in the rain after many hours of work had gone into them. Crowds wondered at the drawings, they were greatly appreciated, but so temporary in nature. Now the drawings live only in the memories of those who were there. They were drawn for us and our pleasure.

Similarly, when I was in Beijing China, I saw artistic masters of calligraphy, do their works using long pens full of water on concrete. Some of the worlds greatest Chinese calligraphy appeared for a few minutes and then vanished away forever.

Through most of our history, there have been wonderful things that have lasted only for an instant in time and then afterwards vanished forever much as the beautiful chalk paintings are the calligraphy done with water. They are here for a second and then gone.

Before recording media, most art had this quality. Before books, before records, before video cameras great art came and went-often being here for a short time and disappearing. The great dramatic performances and the great actors of the ancient world, we never had the opportunity to hear. The same is true of the great muscians and music of the ancient world. Have you ever wondered what the Psalms sounded like when they were put to music by David and Asaph.

All this wonderful art although beautiful is lost to us today. Many of our most wonderful books are only copies of earlier editions, including the Bible.

I choose to live an artistic life. The acts of my life are art. That art has an audience. My audience is God, the angels, my family and those people that God chooses to allow into my life. That art may not be lasting-after all who can even remember the joys and hopes of their own family five or six generations back. It is almost as if they never were. But they were. They did exist. They did things that were beautiful and important whether we know about them or not.

One day many years ago I say a policeman direct traffic with excellence. Now most people that direct traffic, only direct traffic. This man chose to direct traffic as an art. When he did it, he did with such flourish and panache that people stopped to watch and would congregate. This individual was in his heart not just a traffic cop, he was an artist doing his art. The drivers and passerbyers were his audience and we would often take lunch and watch him direct. Never did an orchestra conductor have a more appreciative audience than this traffic cop.

If you have a Harley, then ride safely--but just as importantly ride well. Ride as a thing of beauty, ride with excellence. If it is raising children, or doing a simple job then find excellence in it.

So live your life as an artist. Don't be too concerned whether you are remembered it or not. Live with excellence. Live with artistry. Do what it is given you to do-but do it well.

HarleyDad-ride safe, ride well.