Destroy the idea that you gotta be good at artistic things to enjoy them, that every hobby has to be something you're so good at, you can monetize it.
A capitalist lie.
Sing offkey, draw poorly, write badly. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not monetized. You're not a product.
-Tumblr user @bookavid, 2019
One of the foundational truths of the Christian life is that we are created in the image of God (therefore, contrary to the above quote, we technically are a product, but the Tumblr user was presumably not trying to make that point). Have you ever thought about what that really means? You have probably reminded others (or yourself) that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God when they (or you) are feeling down and suffering from a lack of self-confidence, and sure, it is certainly a reminder to be confident in who God created us to be, but who did God create us to be? This verse (Genesis 1:27 to be exact) implies that we cannot know who we are until we know who God is.
The verse says that God created man in His image. God is Creator. We were created to create. Does that mean we have to be "good" at the things we create? "Good" is such a subjective term. The Veggie Tales episode "A Snoodle's Tale" is particularly good at illustrating this. And see, I think it's good; other people may not. But I digress. The snoodle did not know where he came from or what his gifts (paints, a kazoo, wings) were for. Then he met the one who created him and who gave him these things. At first, he did not know who this large snoodle was, but this became clear when He said "But I know who you are, for I made you." A few moments later, the small snoodle showed the large snoodle a picture of flowers that he painted. The picture was nothing more than a few colorful brush strokes that might look like flowers if you squint your eyes, tilt your head, and use your imagination, but the large snoodle was pleased with this painting simply because it was created by His creation, whom He was proud of.
I hesitate to call myself an artist because I'm not that good, but I love creating. Music, short movies, photography, painting, poetry (or prose): I think it's amazing to be able to make something that has never existed. And I am (usually, to some extent anyway) proud of my work. But if I can be proud of the happy little accidents I call art, how much more is God, the perfect Creator, proud of us, His masterpiece?
