An Apology for Artists

I recently read Will I See My Dog In Heaven by Jack Wintz, OFM (review to come soon). For today, I am sharing a poem he wrote as a young man. As an artist/writer, I sometimes struggle with the purpose of it all. This was a good reminder for me.

An old monk made some tiger cubs
from lumps of moldy clay,
then found a block of cherry wood
and gaily carved a tray.
His abbot caught him later still
with water paints and brush,
all smiles and dabbling speckles
on a fresh and dazzling thrush.
"Jerome! Jerome!" the abbot cried,
"explain these vain distractions!
A monk should paint Madonnas -
depict nice, pious actions."
"Well, tell me sir," the monk replied,
while brushing off his habit,
"did God give you a good excuse
for making fox and rabbit?"