It's often the hole in your heart that drives you. Some of the best artists were driven to create their greatest works out of their tragedies and some of the best music is made out of heartbreak and yearning for healing. A person who understands the pain in others, because of what they have been through in life, are often the most qualified to communicate to others in music and in words; sharing the insights they've learned along the way, the truths that kept them here and kept them going each day, that kept them reaching for their highest aspirations and goals, and persisting against obstacles large and small all along the way. No one is immune to problems and struggles, but those who reach for healing often find they have a voice, and something to say about the problems in the world and in the human soul, as they reach for and find answers in their own lives and in the world around them.
Often people say the enigmatic "X-factor" is the quality of an artist that can draw in audiences and keep their attention over time... as they morph from one phase to the next, continually evolving, leading an audience with them and picking up more fans all along the way. I've been reading a book called "Bono on Bono: Conversations with Michka Assayas", and in this book, Bono of U2 is very open and honest about his struggles and his life, and at the same time has some astounding insights into life and the reasons why he is the person that he is, and why he has achieved what he has in his life so far.
At one point he makes mention of the survival instinct. He says he has a very strong survival instinct. I can relate to that myself in some ways as I've nearly died many times in my life and so many of my friends died young. Since I was very young I was looking for my opportunity to leave home and live on my own – since the age of five in fact – and I always found the entire world an easy playground compared to the complex tragedies of my family life. Bono goes on to talk about how his mother died when he was 14, the crime in his neighborhood growing up, his father's emotional distance and the dysfunctional relationships between his father, his brother and himself. He said a rock star is a person with a big hole in their heart, and that it is no accident to find yourself in front of 20,000 people.
It's often the hole in your heart that drives you. Some of the best artists were driven to create their greatest works out of their tragedies and some of the best music is made out of heartbreak and yearning for healing. A person who understands the pain in others, because of what they have been through in life, are often the most qualified to communicate to others in music and in words; sharing the insights they've learned along the way, the truths that kept them here and kept them going each day, that kept them reaching for their highest aspirations and goals, and persisting against obstacles large and small all along the way. No one is immune to problems and struggles, but those who reach for healing often find they have a voice, and something to say about the problems in the world and in the human soul, as they reach for and find answers in their own lives and in the world around them.
Often the best music comes from the least likely places. Some of the Psalms in the Holy Bible were written when David was running for his life from Saul, living in caves and those songs have lasted and encouraged people for thousands of years. Some of the books in the New Testament were written from jail cells, and people still draw strength from their words today. I have often found myself in situations where I feel crushed within from outward circumstances and in those situations God shows Himself strong, in the midst of my weakness, His word becomes the light for my eyes and mind, and He becomes my deliverer, even at the 11th hour, in the most unexpected and miraculous ways.
Bono also points out that you should never trust a performer completely, as performers "lie" for a living much like an actor, but a writer is forced to be honest as they reach inside and tear out their heart to give to the world. There is a price to be paid for being a true artist. That price is being totally honest with yourself. It is similar to living an honest walk with God in which you are seeing the ugliness in yourself, as well as the gifts and redeeming qualities, and striving to become a better person all the time, striving to make an impact in the world around you, giving yourself to reach out to others with your words, heart, mind and life regardless of what kind of response you may find from people. You do this in spite of rejection, coldness, apathy and cynicism, in spite of the dark sides of fame, the industry and people, ever working to touch those who find courage in your words, strength and inspiration amidst the problems and boredom of life.
The life of an artist is not an easy one. Many live in near poverty, others work full time to support their full time passion to create and communicate in music or their artistic gift. It can be very rewarding, or it can be very empty at times, and even dangerous as you find yourself cut off from friends and in situations and places you never imagined yourself in. But you draw strength from the same things that brought you there in the first place – prayer and faith in God and the persistence to go on and find that light at the end of the tunnel or that weakness in the wall to break through to the place you need to be.
nd ultimately artists are called to live openly before the world. You don't need to trust everyone but generally your expression is quite personal. And today it struck me that God, Himself is a person, and His Son is a person, and God took courage and sent His Son to a cold hard world that mostly rejected Him, and ultimately caused Him to die yet in every moment Jesus Christ gave everything He had. He loved people. He reached out to the poor. He strengthened and encouraged the weak. He healed the sick. He offered forgiveness for people's wrongs and the power to begin again with a fresh start and a new outlook and a hope beyond this life for eternity.
If you are totally honest with yourself, and you give yourself fully every day to reach out to others with the truth you have found in your own walk in knowing God it is not likely that your world will remain unchanged. It is likely that your attitude will rub off on others, your insights inspire others, and even your most difficult lessons change others around you even for years to come. Only you know what you may be called to and often it takes a leap of faith to learn what you can and cannot do. And in doing so, you will find God is faithful. He will always be waiting for you at the other side of the gap you have to leap or at the top of the hill you have to climb. In fact, more than likely He will walk beside you, encouraging you at each step, refreshing you with water and humor and fun, and when you are too tired, exhausted or discouraged to continue, He will carry you.
Ultimately the greatest gift in life is love. Love is not just a cheesy pop song. Love is the life of Christ. His example is spilled across the pages of the gospels and history. His love is visible in the sunrise, sunset and starry nights, in every drop of rain, every leaf on every tree, and every blade of grass. You will never know how much He has done for you. But while you are alive, you can give back what you can, in a life lived in awe and worship of God your Creator.