Bellevue College Art and Faith Discussion

I’m working on a religion question and need a sample draft to help me learn.

1. Read Mako Fujimura’s thoughts on creating as a believer. How do you see the act of creating as
an illustration of faith? For you, where do you like to create (with drawing, painting, writing
prose, poetry, gardening, cooking….) the most — and how can you use that to communicate
your faith?

2. Read Andrew Peterson’s story of his bad advice. What is he trying to say here? Think about an
area of creative struggle in your life right now. How can this specifically help you?(

3. This is from an amazing book called Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson (if you are looking
for some inspiring reading about us as creatives, this is one of my favs):
“If you’re familiar with Bach, you may know that at the bottom of his manuscripts, he wrote the
initials, ‘S.D.G.’ Soli Deo Gloria, which means ‘glory to God alone.’ What you may not know is
that at the top of his manuscripts he wrote, ‘Jesu Juva,’ which is Latin for ‘Jesus, help!’
There’s no better prayer for the beginning of an adventure. Jesus, you’re the source of beauty:
help us make something beautiful: Jesus, you’re the Word that was with God in the beginning,
the Word that made all creation; give us words and be with us in this beginning of this creation;
Jesus, you’re the light of the world: light our way into this mystery; Jesus, you love perfectly and
with perfect humility: let this imperfect creation bear your perfect love to every ear that hears
every eye that beholds it.”

Jesu Juva. Don’t you just love it?!!?! For this question, respond to Jesu Juva creatively. You
may do a drawing, a poem, a prayer, a story….anything to creatively express a cry to the Lord
for help.