Adam and God

            Sitting in Art history talking about Michelangelo. While listening to lecture I came out with an essay. He was quite the guy. Beaten by his father for drawing and becoming independent by the age of seventeen. On the big screen, professor Lubke displayed Michelangelo’s famous painting “God with Adam”. Staring at the painting for an extended amount of time while Sir Lubke ran through some background history got my mind examining again.

            Painters know how to make someone appear confident, haughty, timid, impressive, daring, and even immature. Any characteristic we posses, their painting can also possess. It’s fascinating. Adam, in this painting, appears to be immature and lazy. His hand is lethargically draped towards God. His head is small for his body. Seemingly suggesting that Adam isn’t behaving properly. It’s the famous snapshot of Adam and Gods hands tenderly reaching toward one another. In a fraction of time, they will touch. The painting leaves this part to our own imagination. What happens when God touches a human? His Almighty power and wisdom will flow into Adam, changing his immaturity into wisdom and strength. Looking at God’s hand, there is direction and purpose. He is fully facing Adam, with devotion. While Adam’s chest is facing forward with his head turned toward God.  

            I am convinced that Michelangelo accepted the Father of the fatherless and flourished in Gods beautiful healing and restoration. Completely devoting his talents to the thought provoking creation of the Bible in picture form. Art is developed from our own thoughts and carried out through our creativity. Psalm 68:5 explain that our Heavenly father is “A father to the fatherless”. There is a reason that art is therapeutic. Art is close to the heart of God. He wants us to understand the feeling of being a proud Creator. Spending lots of time on a piece of art and then stepping back and delighting in your creation is the heart of our father. Sir Lubke finishes talking about Michelangelo and I have a full page of Gods own character in us. Hopefully I receive grace on that exam.