BY
VERONICA WILL
My
experience at youth group has never been anything except positive. The people are always kind and fun to talk
to, the activities raise a sense of friendly competition, and worship connects
us together. However, with all of these
great things, youth group never stuck out to me. I enjoyed being there, but the amount I went
slowly declined, and I didn’t fully understand why.
Turns
out, my creative gene was partially to blame.
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|
Veronica Will is 16 years
old and a rising senior
at Henrico High School
|
As
a self-proclaimed artist (of mostly the theater variety, but with the artist
strain still in me), my art has always been a social outlet for me. I mostly keep to myself (and yes, I am aware
of the irony in an introverted theater kid), and I consider myself more of a
listener than a contributor when it comes to social situations. So, when my mom
told me about this art activity, I was thrilled. This sounded like the perfect
opportunity to get involved in youth group in a way that gave me an opportunity
to thrive and be in my element. It was very helpful that Adam Williams sent out
a message about what we were doing at youth group that week, because it gave me
the opportunity to participate in a meaningful experience.
Art
is a vital part of worship. It is a way
to take your feelings and relationship with God and express it into a physical
image. So many people across the world and throughout history use art to break
through barriers like language and cultural differences and connect through the
love of God. Look at the intricate stained glass windows in old churches, or
the painting on the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. God has shown himself in art
throughout history, so what better way to connect a group of young Christians?
To
me, art is a way to grow closer to myself and my relationship with God. Through poetry, performance, and painting I
have been able to grow as a person and reflect on my spirituality. It’s my main source of communication, with
both God and my peers, so to be able to participate in this form of expression
that is close to me and share it with other people made this experience very
important to me. Everyone worships
differently, and the consideration of the artistically inclined leads to a
stronger community, and gives people the opportunity to explore other methods
of practicing spirituality.
