lifeasmission

Dancing with Words

May 21, 2008 // 5324 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F05%2Fdancing-with-words%2FDancing+with+Words2008-05-21+18%3A52%3A42JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F05%2F21%2Fdancing-with-words%2F

I am not much of a dancer, but I get the basics. There’s really 2 main components. First, moving your body as an expression of the music. Second, keeping in step with your partner. I think conversation (something I am way more accustomed to than dancing) is a lot like that. We use our words to express what we are thinking/feeling and, (at least if we are good at conversation) we are doing out best to keep our words in line with the rhythm of our conversation partner. There is a constant exchange which takes place here. In conversation, we choose our words, our tone, and our timing not only in accordance with the rhythm of the conversation, but in response to the movements of the other person (or people if you really want to make it complicated!).

Both dancing and conversation are artistic forms of expression of my opinion. Like dancing, conversations can be either graceful and exhilarating or cumbersome and traumatic. Both are also exhausting. Good conversations, like good dancing are draining – physically as well as emotionally. Both are practices you engage in not merely with skill, though that helps, but with thought, passion, and feeling.

Why bother to draw this analogy and bother to write all this? Couple of reasons.

First, I long to be an artist. I seriously envy those who can dance, draw, paint, sculpt, make music, or concoct brilliant and elaborate pieces of fiction. But that’s not me. I am a conversationalist, a speaker, and a teacher. I use words to try and paint pictures and shape imaginations. Maybe I am just stretching this, but I think that has some artistic merit.

Second, you can never have too many good analogies and this one reminds me that our words and the conversations they construct are never neutral – like any other art form, they either help or hinder that which they aim to express.

So here’s to the hope and expectation of dancing well with our words. Cheers!

Posted in art, beauty

Tag an Artist

August 4, 2007 // 3952 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F08%2Ftag-an-artist%2FTag+an+Artist2007-08-05+01%3A40%3A19JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F395

I don’t consider myself particularly artistic. I do enjoy writing and I have tried my hand at songs and poetry on occasion, but the vast majority of my writing comes in prose form. I can’t draw, paint, sculpt, or sketch worth a darn, and the depth my insight into the work of those who can is lacking. At the same time, between the impact a few of my friends have had on me and my ever-growing appreciation for they way art can express and embody the Kingdom of God in a way mere words never could, I find myself longing for more and more artists to emerge who can do and be for the church what only they can do and be.

So, my aim here is not so much to spawn a discussion as it is to start a trend. I have offered a few of my reflections on art, I will offer something “artistic” that I have done, and I am going to tag 5 people who I think have tremendous artistic abilities and ask them to do the same. If you were tagged (or even if you weren’t and you still want to play, honestly I’d love to circulate this as broadly as possible), here’s what you do…

1. Briefly mention how you think of art.

2. Offer something artistic that you have done – a picture, a song, a poem, photography, a presentation of some sort, something which you believe conveys truth and beauty, something which you believe can serve as an inspiration to others.

3. Tag 5 other people whom you believe posses artistic ability, link to this post, and pass along these same instructions.

Here’s a short video of a PowerPoint Presentation I put together for a class I was helping with a couple weeks ago. It’s a series of images, quotes, Scripture verses, and some statistics set to Derek Webb‘s song, “This Too Shall Be Made Right.” You can download the video here and if you want the PowerPoint presentation itself, here ya go, but be forewarned, the likelihood of this presentation displaying the same way I put it together is slim and none. You’ll be better off if you’re using a mac I think, but even then you might have some trouble.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y764ND2aEHI[/youtube]

Here’s my 5…

Sean Savage

Alex Rozko

Josh Elek

Leanne Snavely

Jenelle D’Alessandro

Posted in art, beauty, blogging, kingdom, music

My Maria

November 9, 2006 // 278No Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F11%2Fmy-maria%2FMy+Maria2006-11-09+22%3A59%3A40JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F278

This is my girlfriend Maria. She just got a new haircut and if she wasn’t already the most beautiful woman in the world, she certainly is now.

Posted in beauty, maria

Where Do You See Beauty?

September 9, 2006 // 2391 Comment »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F09%2Fwhere-do-you-see-beauty%2FWhere+Do+You+See+Beauty%3F2006-09-09+23%3A34%3A26JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F239

My friend Morten was sharing this with me today.  This is an Icelandic band called, “Sigur Ros.”  Their video reminded me of the beauty of simplicity and the sacredness of all things unique.

Posted in beauty, music