How Long Does It Take?

My post last week, ‘The Marinating of Art’, was regarding how created art needs to have time to ‘marinate’. This week I will address the question, ‘How long does it take for art to marinate?’ The answer is that it depends since different types of art require varying amounts of ‘lead time’ for preparation, and possibly creation also. A worship leader leading a song which both she and the congregation are familiar vs. a musician creating a new arrangement. Actors preparing execution of an existing work vs. a script being written and then performed. I encourage church service design teams to plan as far ahead as possible to allow for as many creative options as possible with different ideas and artistic disciplines needing different amounts of preparation time. How nice it was once to be booked at the beginning of September to minister in a Sunday morning worship service at the beginning of December with the pastor being able to tell me not only his topic and text but his main points as well. The advance notice and information helped me to prepare very well. In contrast, some excellent and creative ideas are conceived when it is too late to implement them, or to execute them with excellence. On this note, respecting volunteers (or even compensated artists) includes inviting them to be involved with sufficient notice. As I wrote last week - a commitment to excellence may result in an artist turning down an invitation to serve when there is not enough time to prepare well.  We perform for an Audience of One. As we prepare a feast of artistic worship for him, may we take the time, effort and care to ensure that it is as seasoned as possible.