Safety, Beauty, and the Image of God

 

During the past year, nearly all of us have experienced a simplification of our lives.  Family schedules that were a frenzy of activity between school, recreation, extra-curricular activities, extended family, and various tasks for care of health and household business.  Even for those who did not experience the generous amount of down time others did, because their careers actually intensified, their time became more focused on that task as these other obligations became unavailable or unadvisable. 

 

While I know many have found that simplification beneficial as an opportunity to consider their priorities, and reorganize accordingly, there is also a loss to be mourned in such circumstances, because intense focus on safety has dramatically curtailed a vital aspect of our human existence, or at least forced us to engage it in unconventional ways.  That vital aspect is the cultivation of human ability through such things as the arts and sport, by which we have the opportunity to express our experience of life or appreciate the display of ability found in others. 

 

Cultures and religions throughout time and across continents have recognized this display as a uniquely human activity, as we are able to reflect on our experience, and hone our performance in a way not found in other creatures.  For Christians, our effort to create in a way that builds beyond mere survival is understood to be a facet of the image of God that is uniquely created in humanity. 

 

As we build, design, perform, and compete, we are exercising ability given by our Creator, and cultivating it in appreciation for His goodness.  As we enjoy the expression and performance of others, we are able to appreciate His design for creation and to be reminded of His gracious provision that exceeds merely sustaining basic life and safety.  Even under the most ideal conditions, when we participate in these displays and disciplines, we may face risk of injury, or even death, in the process, because the experience and opportunity is of such value that we accept that risk. 

 

In an eternal perspective, we also recognize that as St. Paul said, “Whether we live, or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:8) The one who creates this ability and desire to exercise it within us is the same one who gives His Son into death to rescue us, and while we may need to exercise caution for a time, we recognize that even those things that are not “essential” are a vital part of our nature to engage.  Knowing this, we grieve at the deprivation of something of great value, and we seek to preserve the framework to engage again while we anticipate the day when our experience of this vital facet of our experience of life will be restored.