Day 31: Project 6: Choose This Day

For the last 6 days of our 31 Days of Playing with the Arts series we are publishing a different project each day.

Each of these projects will help you get started in one particular art or will help you to generally engage in the creative process.

When you have completed a project snap a picture or write a short post and share it on Twitter or Instagram with the tag @expandingwisdom That way we can all be inspired by and respond to each other’s art.

We have spent the last 31 days talking about the creative process and the arts. Let take a moment and go back to the quote that started it all.

“The paideutic man’s attitude toward such activities as painting, drawing, violin playing, dancing, and acting is amateurish, not professional. He knows that one cannot learn the culture defined by these activities passively. Since culture is the unique property of the participant, not of the spectator, the classical academy resists the modern tendency to select only the most talented for participating.”

“He knows that one cannot learn the culture defined by these activities passively..”

One of the reasons I am attracted to and embrace the classical tradition, is because there is a culture within that tradition that is life giving to its very core. I want that to be a part of my life and my children’s lives. The door to this culture can only be walked though by those who are willing to move through the door. We must participate in the culture to learn it. I think most of us would agree that we would do harm if we ignored the arts altogether, but even more we will do harm if we fail to play with and love the arts.

“Since culture is the unique property of the participant, not of the spectator”When we choose to play with the arts, not only do we learn the culture, but we become the culture in a sense. The culture we are participating in belongs to us. Through participation we develop a meaningful relationship with the culture and it will be passed down to the next generation because it is in us. This is one of the reason I spoke directly to you about the arts. I know that we as moms need to begin participating first. When we do our kids will be affected by it. More is caught than taught.

“The classical academy resists the modern tendency to select only the most talented for participating.”If our children are struggling with math or writing do we allow them to skip those subjects? Of course not. We press in, learn, and encourage. We tell them about how important these subjects are and hope to show them some of the beauty these subjects hold. Classical educators, especially Christian classical educators, are to hold up the arts in the same light. We partake because there is something sacred about the arts and by partaking something is developed in us that one should never live without.

What will you choose? Where will you participate? Where will you enter in?Today’s project is to make a choice.

Project: Make a Choice & Take Action

Choose this day where you will play with the arts and then take one step in the direction of making it part of your life. Do not make the action step complicated or you will be tempted to procrastinate. Here is a summary of the arts we discussed during our series as well as a few we could not get to. Revisit the article or project for a few ideas on how you can go ahead and get started. Make sure to decide when. It is worth what ever sacrifice you have to make. Just begin, it does not have to be perfect, in fact it won’t be. Just begin. To God be the Glory. It has been a pleasure to walk through this month with you all.

Expanding wisdom, extending grace,

Jen