Day 166 "The Heart Behind the Graffiti"

The question is often asked, "Is graffiti good or is it bad?" In an article I found online at Vans, a sporting company, entitled "IS GRAFFITI ART OR VANDALISM?" I found a couple of statements worth pondering. "Whether it's good or bad, that comes down to the viewer who makes that decision, but anything is art if it has a meaning to you,” said Dan Pierce, a mixed media artist. Andrew Kulman, a professor of communication at the School of Visual Communication at Birmingham City University, agrees citing: “No, there is no bad graffiti, just graffiti, as a personal visual expression any graffiti is a valid gesture,” he says. Pierce does caution that there is a moral line that shouldn’t be crossed. “Graffiti can fall into the category of vandalism or ‘defacing’ when it is a random tag on any old wall that has no meaning.” Interesting, is Pierce trying to make the point that as long as graffiti is done on a wall that has meaning, it is valid and okay? I don't know of anyone who has ever come back to clean up one's graffiti off the wall, to restore the wall and building as it was before the graffiti.

Ask people of the movement "Black Lives Matter" if its okay to tag building with graffiti and write whatever you want to say and the response will most likely reverberate, "Yes, it's important to get the message out." Little thought given to who will clean the graffiti off the walls when all the dusts settles? Ever try to clean off graffiti from sandstone? Doubtful, you will find any of the original so-called artists doing the cleanup work. Perhaps, it is like the cook and the dishwasher. "I cooked the food, you clean up the dishes." The artist sprays the graffiti, now, someone else can clean it up? Public or private property? It doesn't matter. To the one doing the graffiti, any building is merely a canvas upon which one produces one's work without culpability.

In an age of relativism, where things are judged to be correct or incorrect, right or wrong, according from one's particular perch, one's particular point of view, I offer the highest standard of the land to filter through questions such as the one about graffiti being right or wrong. Does it stand up to the the protocol and edict "To Love?" If we resolve ourselves to accept things by our own standards, then we will open ourselves up to the floodgates of a vast plethera of what is acceptable and what is not according to our particular points of view. However, if we willingly yield ourselves to a higher calling and set a standard of putting the interest of others before our own, then I challenge anyone to consider the righteousness of graffiti when done without permission and acted out of one's own will without the considerations of others who may be affected by it.

"then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being

one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfishness ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not

only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:2-4

"And now I will show you the most excellent way." 1 Corinthians 12:31

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of

wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,

always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Whose permission was asked for before such graffiti was undertaken? Who is going to clean up the graffiti and restore the building or walls back to the pre-graffiti condition?

Whether one wants to construe if graffiti is okay or not doesn't make it right? Whenever and wherever we have the propensity to put our own interest before the interest of others, love takes a back seat to self-centeredness and selfishness, no matter how noble the quest may seem. Self-centeredness is the antithesis to love. And where love is set aside, where love is allowed to grow cold and dormant, fear and anxiety grow like weeds choking out harmony and togetherness.

The picture of graffiti shown above was conducted on a federal building in Portland, Oregon. Was permission asked? Highly doubtful. Interest of others considered? Hardly. In the end, such actions brought about a response by federal agents to squelch the disobedience and damage being done to public property. Hardly the intended motive for these so-called artisans who commissioned their own graffiti by their own will. When our actions default to our own natures, anything may become possible. And much of it to our own disliking. But when we submit ourselves to a higher calling, that which is rooted and grounded in love, we will find a better, non-violent way to reach our intended objectives.

What is the price needing to be paid or the sacrifice needing to be implemented to bring about a world-wide community of justice and equality, one full of love for one another? Take heart and be of good cheer for such a payment and sacrifice was already made at a price that cost God his one and only Son to die on the cross to pay for the penalty of our unrighteous hearts. His name is Jesus Christ, and he paved the way to show us how it is to love. To love doesn't mean that the pathway will be free from confrontation and conflict as we go forward. It simply means that we have committed to the highest and most noble standard for getting things done-putting the interests of others before our own.

"Perfect love casts out all fear." 1 John 4:18

******************************************************************************

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted

to one another in brotherly love. Hone one another above yourselves."

Romans 12:9-10

"Follow the way of love." 1 Corinthians 14:1

For the Christian who is seeking to grow in one's relationship with God, and seeks to make a positive impact on life while traveling through this lifetime, the only true compass needed for navigating one's life is the one which points in the direction of the true North star, "love."

In his love, I'll see you again tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)