Have you seen the film "Many Beautiful Things" (2015)? Available on iTunes, this documentary tells the story of Lilias Trotter (1853-1928), an extremely gifted artist, who was acclaimed by the top art critic of the day to be possibly England's top living artist. Though, Lilias decided to give up her art and move to North Africa as a missionary. As I study her life and writings, I have mixed feelings. I am very inspired by her fresh views of God and the gospel, but I am also sad. What would have happened if a community of Christian artists had come alongside her and encouraged her to use her phenomenal artistic gifts in ministry? What if someone had shown her that it is possible to be a missionary AND an artist? What if she realized she did not have to choose one or the other?
