Quote from Blankets
August 6, 2004
In the book, Craig is a young boy who loves drawing and the theme of calling and passion runs throughout the book. While Craig is a senior in high school, he sits in front of a blank sheet of paper, apparently having artist’s block, and he remembers what his 5th grade Sunday School teacher once told him in front of the entire class. I know many today who are encouraging students in the arts, but I believe that this happens more than we would like to admit. Here is the conversation:
S.S. Teacher: Does anyone have an idea of what we might be doing in Heaven?
Student 1: Relaxing - like on vacation.
Student 2: Snowmobiling.
Student 3: Football.
Craig: Drawing.
S.S. Teacher: Oh, Craig…draw? For all eternity?
Craig: It’s a perfect place, right? Wouldn’t we be doing what we LIKE to do?
S.S. Teacher: HA HA. Well, INDEED we’ll be busy, and INDEED we’ll enjoy our labor, because we won’t FATIGUE or grow distracted like we do on earth, but our NEW LIVES in Heaven will be devoted to PRAISING and WORSHIPPING GOD! — bowing to Him, singing Him songs, and EXCLAIMING His name for all ETERNITY - and we’ll love every second of it, because of all He’s done for us!
Craig: But…I can’t sing.
S.S. Teacher: In Heaven, you’ll have a BEAUTIFUL voice!
Craig: But I don’t LIKE to sing. Couldn’t I praise God with my DRAWINGS?
S.S. Teacher: I mean, “Come on, Craig.” How can you praise God with DRAWINGS? … So as I was saying, we’ll be working - NOT RELAXING - but we’ll love it, and…yes Craig?
Craig: — draw His CREATION — like trees and stuff…
S.S. Teacher: But, Craig…He’s already drawn it for us…
Posted in 
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
August 6th, 2004 at 2:50 am
It’s the story of my life. I was taught that only sissies sang past age 12 and that the arts weren’t for real men. I loved singing - and was good at it - but shut it out of my life. Only recently have I begun to sing again and every time I do, I worry about what my Dad would say if he walked in and saw me.
August 7th, 2004 at 12:35 pm
I have a friend who draws like a crazy man and can make a piece of paper leap out at you. I have a friend who plays the piano with such skill I wonder why he isn’t out making money at it. My point being that I respect people who are skilled in any area. true friends and supporting family peoples encourage your talents and skills. If God hadn’t intended for you to (draw, sing, write, paint etc…) use your talents, he wouldn’t have given them to you
August 28th, 2004 at 4:39 am
Thanks for this recommendation, Adam. I’ve blogged about Blankets here: http://gracepages.blogspot.com/2004/08/blankets.html