I've titled my blog "Ear in the Envelope."
If you're familiar with a little art history you will remember that Vincent Van Gogh - in a moment of frustration and insanity cut off his ear lobe and placed it in an envelope. Some claim Van Gogh later visited a brothel to present the severed lobe to a prostitute named Rachel. I hope to capture the same passion. In the middle of this chaotic world, how should we live and respond.
Van Gogh is one of my favorite characters. His life was intense! But through that intensity there are interesting situations that make me think!
Here's a list of some of my favorite bits of information about Vincent:
1. His father was a pastor.
Hmmm, I wonder what impact that relationship had on his faith?
2. He was unsure of his purpose in life and searched passionately for an answer.
3. He wanted to be a pastor and began to prepare for that life, but the Greek and Hebrew were more that he could handle.
What kinds of things get in our way and prevent us from doing what we want or feel like we should do?
4. He became a missionary to miners in South Belgium. He was determined to live in the imitation of Christ but his extreme behavior and the fact that he gave his money and clothing away alarmed the missions organization and they soon asked him to leave.
He was compassionate to the poor, he wanted to imitate Christ.....
5. He was never self-sufficient. His brother Theo supported him financially most of his adult life.
Did this bother him? Could I live this way being totally dependent. Should I live this way when it comes to my "Heavenly Father?"
6. His life was a clear spiritual battle.
His life was extreme. It's pretty accepted that he had some type of mental illness. But is the spiritual battle as clearly played out in my life? Do I live as if the idea of spiritual battle is a conversation only for a Bible class? Am I sensative enough to know when God is working in my life? Do I know when satan is pulling me in the wrong direction?
7. He was who he was. He was not trying to follow the fashions of others.
"Ear in the Envelope" is a place to answer questions like these.
It is a place to share truth,truth about ourselves,
about life,
and about OUR FATHER.
It is a place to ask questions without fear.
It is a place to open our hearts in honesty.
This is a place to learn to "LIVE" in Christ.
Liz
