Life as Art

by Gregory Allen Butler

I have long held a view of life as art. In everything we do we can communicate beauty and grace, or ugliness and coarseness. Every word, thought and action we give birth to leaves an impression, not only on us, but on everyone within our circle of influence.

Esthetics are part and parcel of everyday life. Consider the following quote:

"The most invisible creators I know of are those artists whose medium is life itself. The ones who express the inexpressible - without brush, hammer, clay or guitar. They neither paint nor sculpt - their medium is being. Whatsoever their presence touches has increased life. They see and don't have to draw. They are the artists of being alive." J. Stone

I came across this quote yesterday while surfing on the web. I don’t know who J. Stone is but the words resonate within me as important truth. I have touched on this theme before, that each of us is a work of art in progress. And as such, we have a responsibility, as works of art are transformative. This is one of the higher purposes of life – to interact with others in a way that uplifts them into higher awareness and consciousness.

As a living, breathing, and walking work of art, what is it that you want to express? What does your presence speak to other people? Does your presence instill peace and harmony, or gloom and doom? Can you imagine walking into a room that is filled with tension, and by your presence alone, transform that energy of tension into peace and calm?

This idea of presence is an extension of Emerson’s famous quote: "What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.." The personification of essence is the highest end result of life as art. It is a shaping and molding of light. In that sense, we are all architects.

And it is in that sense that we have such a responsibility. Life is so fragile. We are so destructible. Living on the surface of things makes us so vulnerable. Living on the surface forges an identity with nothingness. There is no substance. It’s like a façade on a movie set. Facades are not real life. They are for appearance purposes only. And this leads to a very important question: Is your life a façade? Do you live for appearances only? Are you concerned with what people think of you? Or are you someone who is more interested in transforming lives by being the best person you can be? This has nothing to do with appearances.

A life of being is far beyond a life of appearances. And the high road of all roads to being is living a life dedicated in service to others. That puts one in harmony with the expansive and creative principles of the universe. This is power. The more you use this power of expansive and creative principles, the more you will have it at your disposal. You become a conduit of life, love, consciousness and beauty.

Consider the words of the silent spiritual master Meher Baba on this subject:

To penetrate into the essence of all being and significance, and to release the fragrance of that inner attainment for the guidance and benefit of others, by expressing in the world of forms – truth, love, purity and beauty – this is the sole game that has any intrinsic and absolute worth. All other incidents and attainments can, in themselves, have no lasting importance.

This is when the abundance of the universe really comes into play. It’s as if you have become a full partner in a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Infinite resources become available to you – not for your sake, but for your work’s sake, for your purpose of advancing life and the quality of light. Doors open that before were closed. Ideas come, creativity flourishes, helpers appear, and life’s energy is stepped up to a whole new dimension.

The key to all of this, however, is a new vision of life -- a vision evolved from selfish pursuits to selfless pursuits, a vision of life free from the separating tendencies of fear, replaced by an embrace of the life of unifying love and compassion.

When the focus of energy is on others, worries disappear. And when life is free of worry, then energy is free to pursue creative channels. Life as art transforms every moment from the ordinary to the sublime.