I’m getting invites to speak at different events. That’s an exciting and scary development for me.
It's exciting because I love speaking and sharing my thoughts and work.
But it's scary because of the variety of reactions to my thoughts and work.
I just returned from a trip to the United Lutheran Seminary where I gave a one-hour talk on how art can perform a prophetic function… prophetic as in speaking truth.
It was really well received. I met a lot of fans. It was refreshing to have people want to hang out with me. I don’t get that very often. Including young pastors and profs… all of whom I was very impressed with.
I quoted Ai Weiwei above because that accurately represents what I think my art does in the world.
(I know many argue that my cartoons aren’t art… that their 4-year-old could draw better than I. But even if it’s bad art, it is art.)
What I’ve noticed more and more as my art gets more and more publicity is that even though I don’t intend for my cartoons to be a nail in the eye or a spike in the flesh or gravel in the shoe, they end up being so for many people.
I’ve also noticed why: they challenge what is settled and secure for them.
They are unorthodox and challenge orthodoxy.
This applies to you. To everyone!
At first, we feel the pressure to remain orthodox. Don’t you dare think or live outside the box we’ve made for you!
Then, when you finally break free to try to become and live your most authentic self, you are chastised and cajoled and criticized and corrected and condemned until you fall back in line and become orthodox again.
Twitter (or X now) has illustrated this so well for me lately. I’m getting so much kickback because apparently, I’m unorthodox. Heresy! Repent! Fall back in line!
Ugh!
I remember when I felt trapped but accepted.
Now I feel free but unaccepted.
So here’s some advice for you:
Firstly, choose your comfort. Trapped and acceptable, or free and unacceptable. Those seem to be the only options.
Secondly, because living free can be lonely, find some friends and people who support you.
I support you in your freedom… your decision to be unorthodox… your decision to be you.
I’m here for you.
