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In Christ’s love,
Latest Post
- Don’t Quit Your Daydream
Last week I interviewed my friend Andrés who was working at a job he trained for, but didn’t love. What he really wanted to do was minister to people as a pastor at a church.
When I asked him last year what was keeping him from doing what he really loved, he said he thought he wasn’t qualified, he thought no one would hire him, and he thought that maybe when he was 50 or 60 or retired he might finally be able to do his dream job. I told him I thought he was qualified, that someone would hire him, and he could start applying now for jobs in ministry!
When I was in Texas last week, I had the privilege of dropping Andrés off on Sunday morning at the large church in Dallas where he now serves on staff as one of their many pastors!
I snapped this picture of Andrés entering the church before heading off to my own next adventure. For I was on a quest to pursue one of my own passions in a bigger way… painting art!
I had driven to Texas to paint art with my cousin Joan Moody, who is also my art coach. When I missed her official art retreat a few months ago, she said to come down sometime and hang out with her and her family, and we’d paint together anyway. So when the weather turned nice again, I did!
I spent a beautiful week with Joan and her husband, Kevin, and daughter, Amy. Art for me was just a side hobby, something I loved doing, but had never considered doing professionally. But like I discovered with my piano playing years ago, God can take our “loves” and turn them into our “lives”! So why not with my painting?
Here’s why not: I had heard others say in the past, you can’t make a living in music or art. I said that to Joan last week and she said, “We do! We tell people all the time!” Joan paints, teaches and coaches art and has her entire life, and her husband sings, teaches, and coaches music, and has his entire life! Haha… the joke was on me.
When my son Bo went to school to focus on songwriting and leadership, an older, mutual friend of ours told Bo, “Just don’t quit your day job!” It was a discouraging comment from someone who was a skilled musician himself. But not long after, I saw a plaque on a wall at a coffee shop. It said:
“Don’t quit your daydream.”
I sent it to Bo. He’s still writing, recording, and publishing his music today!
What about you? What are some of your dreams, your passions, your heart’s desires? And what’s keeping you from leaning into those desires and making them not just a living, but a life?
For me, sometimes it’s just myself! I don’t see a path from here to there. I can’t believe I could actually do what I really want to do full-time. For instance, when I was at Joan’s art retreat over a year ago, she made us all stand up at the end of our 3 days together, show the paintings we had created, and say, “My name is _____, and I am an artist.”
Almost all of us choked when we got to the “artist” part. As for me, I laughed it off and said:
“My name is Eric, and I am an artist. I’m also a liar.”
I couldn’t believe it in my head, my heart, or anywhere else. But I soon discovered that ART is in the middle of HEART. And within a week of that art retreat, I had two people commission me to paint some paintings for them… the first time I had ever been paid for painting.
This year, I have a bigger goal in mind. I’d like to hold an art show here in Illinois (and on Zoom) in September, featuring not just my art, but the art of several of my friends. And YOU’RE invited! Whether you’re a budding artist, professional artist, or an art lover or appreciator of art, I’d love for you to join us here or on Zoom. I’m planning a weekend of fun, fellowship, crackers and cheese, and enjoying art. As Joan says,
“The Earth without art is just Eh.”
It makes me laugh, but it’s true. God loves art, and I believe He loves putting our artwork on His refrigerator. Compared to His creations, all of ours are really just “refrigerator art” anyway, whether a skilled lifetime artist or someone offering their best creation of a picture of their mom and dad in stick figures. They all make Him smile.
God honored artists in the Bible, and called them to use their gifts to the fullest for His and their pleasure. When God told Moses to build a tabernacle in the desert, Moses said:
“All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded…” (Exodus 35:10).
Then Moses named two people to lead this team of artists, saying:
“See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.
“And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver—those who do every work and those who design artistic works” (Exodus 35:30-35).
So, here I am, leaning into another of my lifelong passions at the age of 62, and trying to see what God can do with it if I open myself up to Him. Want to join me?
Here’s one of my creations from this week, a painting to be used on the cover of my sister Marilyn Byrnes’ upcoming piano album. That’s Marilyn at the piano, in an imaginary dress and field of wildflowers. I think it turned out great (with the help of my cousin Joan).
And here’s another of my paintings from last week, a painting of me painting a picture of my house. There’s a secret in the painting. You can watch the podcast to find it! It also hints at the theme of the art show, which is “Revealing.”
Click here to watch the podcast! Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/3kCRd52-aFA
Here’s the episode summary and timestamps of highlights in the podcast…
📝 Episode Summary
Eric and his son Bo sit down fresh off Eric’s private art retreat in Texas to talk about the intersection of faith and creativity. Eric shares paintings he made during the retreat — including a portrait of his sister playing piano in a wildflower field and a whimsical self-portrait painting his own house — and announces an exciting upcoming event: the “Revealing” Art Show this fall, open both in-person and on Zoom.
The conversation explores how God gifts people as creators and appreciators alike, drawing from Exodus 35 to show that skilled artisans have always been called and Spirit-filled. Eric shares his personal journey from jokingly calling himself “an artist… and a liar” at his first retreat to now preparing 80 paintings for a show. Bo reflects on unity and diversity in the body of Christ as it relates to creative gifts. Together they challenge listeners not to limit what God can do through the talents He has placed in them — and invite everyone, whether creator or art lover, to join the show.
⏱️ Timestamps (direct links within the podcast)
- 0:00 – Introduction — Eric and Bo, talking about art
- 0:20 – Announcing the “Revealing” Art Show — in-person & on Zoom
- 0:54 – Painting from the retreat: sister’s piano and wildflower portrait
- 1:31 – Painting of his house — a self-portrait painting his own home
- 1:58 – Art as God-glorifying — “We are co-creators with our Creator”
- 2:27 – Bo reads Exodus 35 — God calls and fills skilled artisans with the Holy Spirit
- 4:11 – Bo reflects: God gifts us differently — unity and diversity in the body of Christ
- 5:57 – Creators AND appreciators are welcome at the show
- 6:02 – Eric at Joan’s retreat: “My name is Eric and I am an artist… and I am a liar”
- 6:56 – Setting a goal to sell a painting — and immediately getting two commissions
- 7:35 – “Refrigerator art” — how God views our creative offerings with delight
- 8:38 – The idea for Eric’s art show takes shape
- 9:03 – Buying 25 canvases, aiming for 80 paintings by September
- 10:08 – The show’s theme revealed: “Revealing” — art with hidden layers
- 10:55 – The angels painting — clouds that lift to show what’s really underneath
- 11:33 – Magnetic canvas flaps — adding dimensions to the house painting
- 12:06 – Sister’s album cover painting — two perspectives, one canvas
- 12:54 – Painting of the pool scene with a revealing flap
- 13:46 – Eric’s children’s artwork on his books — Bo, Josiah, Kaleo, and Makari
- 14:31 – Joan & her husband as a model: making a living from art and music
- 16:22 – Stop limiting God — story of Andrés stepping into full-time ministry
- 17:12 – “Why are you paying to do what other people would gladly pay you to do?”
- 17:50 – Closing encouragement — don’t limit what God can do through your gifts
- 18:20 – Bo’s prayer for the art show and everyone’s creative gifts
- 19:10 – “In the middle of HEART is ART” — and “The Earth without art is just Eh”
Don’t quit your daydream!
Love,
Eric Elder writes for page, stage & screen to glorify God’s name so Christ may be seen! Reply to write to Eric. Use this link to subscribe or unsubscribe.