Week 3: What is your favorite work of art? What do you love about it?

Initially, what came to mind for me as 'art' is the image of a paintbrush, and canvas. I will confess I have little knowledge of, or experience with this kind of art and thus felt I had no sufficient answer.

However, upon further consideration, I decided that the very definition of 'art' means it can come in many forms. In fact, wouldn't a true artist encourage me to freely interpret this question anyway? Thus, I decided I would choose a song as my favorite work of art.

In case you have not sensed a theme, I love words, so I connect most with 'pieces' that take the form of books or songs. I am someone who hears lyrics and remembers them instantly. I love how sung words can resonate so deeply and feel so personal. One person's experience portrayed through music, can move another to feel emotion, though they will probably never even meet the author of those words! To me, this connection is evidence of divine inspiration.

I could go on and on about the power of music, but alas my selection for my favorite work of art begins with the story behind the lyrics of the song "It Is Well with My Soul" written by Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss in 1876. As is so often the case, the artistic value behind this selection is enhanced in knowing the story that proceeds it.

Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer and property owner in Chicago, IL. Spafford had five children. A son and four daughters. He lost his son tragically to pneumonia. A few years later he lost much of his business and property to the Great Chicago Fire. While he stayed behind to deal with business matters, Spafford sent his wife and daughters on a ship to Europe, only to learn days later that all four of his daughters drown in a shipwreck, leaving his wife as the lone survivor of their journey. He boarded a ship to join his wife in Europe and on the way the captain of the ship notified him when they were passing over the waters where his daughters had drowned. It was in that space that he wrote the these lyrics to the now famous hymn:

"When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Chorus:

It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul"

It is almost impossible for me to understand how Horatio Spafford had a heart of content enough to write these words in the midst of such tragedy. Truthfully, I don't know if he wrote them with confidence, or desperation. My best guess is that it was a combination of both. I picture him watching the waves of water over the graves of his daughters and feeling his own inexplicable waves of emotion. He had a choice to make. He could drown with his sorrow, or he could trust the Lord.

I would love to say I would do the same thing in this situation, but I truly do not know if I would. The amount of faith it took for him to speak these words over his situation is remarkable. Though the words themselves are artistic to me in the way they are so eloquently strung together, the true value of this piece is the heart of the man behind the song.

Spafford faced hardships many of us will never know. Yet, he had faith. He CHOSE to trust. He CHOSE to believe God was still there despite evidence that could have turned his heart cold. He CHOSE to proclaim God's unconditional goodness despite tragedy. He spoke words of hope over hopelessness. His choice to remain faithful has provided words for those experiencing hurt generations later.

The life and faith of Horatio Spafford (as reflected in "It Is well With My Soul") is my favorite work of art as it models what true and humble faith looks like in action.

I feel in love with the following interpretation of this song when my sister played it for me several years ago. I hope it speaks to your heart and situations as it has so often spoken to mine.