Isaac Bashevis Singer, an American novelist once remarked: “The greatness of art is not to find what is common but what is unique.” Psalm 19:1-5 reminds us: ”The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day-to-day pours out speech, and night-to-night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.”
Uniqueness is defined as the quality of being particularly remarkable, special or unusual. It may be regarded as being the only one of its kind. Unless it is a copy of former thinking, or a masterpiece etc; every painting is usually considered as exclusive. It portrays a personal vision from an artist onto canvas in a creative perspective or perception only seen by him or her. Diversity exists in the possible genres of perception. These may include auditory, touch, vision, olfactory, taste, proprioception, and social discrimination. These are distinctive to each individual in the universe, no two persons view life as the same. Everyone reacts differently to the wonders or practicalities of a normal entity. They may see goodness where nothing is apparent, they may see badness amidst beauty. Perception is an understanding of the knowledge of life. It is an individual interpretation of both fact or fiction.
Perception can open new doors, it can reveal a reality of circumstances as they should be seen, which discard irrelevance, and instead, focuses on the truth, or it may seemingly create a fictional world in which only some can abide. Matthew 6:1-5 reminds us: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
Knowledge and facts can be interpreted in a variety of ways. In some cases, one’s perceptive senses may become distorted by maligned, and wrongful information. We need to remember that although advice can be helpful, the ability to apply discernment is of even greater importance. 1 John 4:1-21 reminds us: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
One’s perception of God is salient as it reveals a personal vision or understanding of His mindfulness. Art, with the right subject in view, can display a meaningful and beautiful image. God can display a similar representation. That delineation portrays how an individual sees or regards Him. Is He a God of mercy, compassion and love, who is forgiving in nature? Or is He a God of anger and punishment? Perhaps He a God of our dreams?
The Bible informs us of several instances where God has communicated with people through dreams. In Genesis chapter 37, the key story of Joseph is a typical example. Gail Devers, an American athlete once remarked: “Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 confirms: “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
We need to be assured that God’s word is truth. His words should be the only ones we can trust for certain. Whether we have doubts as to His existence is a matter of personal choice, but choice is often the conclusion of perception. It has been said that paintings do not reflect a scientific, historical, or philosophical truth, because art is deemed as subjective, the canvas reflects only the vision of the artist. It can’t be considered a complete truth of what it represents as it will often include minor or even major variations. However, others refute that notion and believe that art can be the truth of the world.
Philippians 4:4-8 reminds us: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Conforming to the principles of perception requires a strict need for accuracy. We have to be sure that what is portrayed to us is correct and we are not being misled through rogue or defamatory information. If we are unsure, or have doubts, we need to seek guidance from God, for His words are only truth. Romans 12:2 reminds us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Amen.
