July 31: Recognition Isn’t Everything

Paul Cézanne never knew that he would some day be considered the father of modern painting.  Because of his great love for his work, he never thought of recognition.  He struggled for 35 years, living in oblivion at Aix in France, giving away masterpieces to indifferent neighbors.

One day, a discerning Paris art dealer happened upon his canvases and, gathering several of them, presented the first Cézanne exhibit.  The greats of the art world were stunned.  Here, indeed, was a master!

Cézanne himself was no less astonished.  Arriving at the gallery on the arm of his son, he gazed wonderingly at his paintings, and tears came to his eyes.

“Look,” he whispered.”  “They’ve framed them!”

Had it been Cézanne’s chief aim to be hailed as a great artist, he might never have achieved much of anything.  But he did achieve greatness simply by trying to make use of the artistic talents God had given him in the very best way he knew how.

Do I seek to please men?  If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.  (Galatians 1:10)  

I pray that I do the best I can with the talents you’ve given me, Creator.