What a disturbing yet beautiful quote, “Silence is the real crime against humanity,” from Nadezhda Mandelstam. I’ve found that it’s difficult enough being open to life itself but retreating from it brings its own dangers.

The answer isn’t surrounding ourselves with people who are nice and clean while we ignore the pain around us.  That only helps us to lose sight that we actually live in a lost and dying world, among people who have no real idea how much their Creator loves them.

What’s the easy shortcut to remedy this?  Ah – there is none.  But a good starting point is when those around us know that we as Christians truly understand them; then they may well conclude that perhaps God understands them too.

Maybe our silence, inability or unwillingness to act should be considered a crime against humanity.  Or possibly we should endeavor to practice the art of helping others, which in essence is living out the gospel.

That could mean reaching out to someone across the world, or to a neighbor in their time of need and perhaps – even your own time of need.  Giving sacrificially if not from your own resources, but of your time – because that is just as meaningful and worth more than what you may believe.

What legacy will each of us choose to leave behind?  Have we mindlessly bought into a culture more interested in making headlines than history, or one that’s content to do nothing at all?

To support the charitable work of The Art of Helping Others, please visit our Artist Gallery Pages to order art products.  Or you can visit The Art of Helping Others merchandise store for T-shirts and more.   Thanks for practicing the art of helping others.

It was once said, “Artists are the real architects of change, and not the political legislators who implement change after the fact.”

Given all the talk of change in the States, what’s your opinion of this quote?  Do artists really fill the role ‘real architects of change’ and if so, what are you seeing to make you believe this?

Is it because we prefer safety and predictability?  Unfortunately, good art isn’t always safe or predictable, and while being in control is comfortable, it’s not exactly biblical and has little to do with exercising faith.