Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
“I say it again – work against indifference – perseverance isn’t easy – but things that are easy mean little.”
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) in Life According to Vincent, edited by Nienke Bakker and Ann Blokland (Van Gogh Museum) 132.
I chose Van Gogh’s painting, The Yellow House, to illustrate this idea of working against indifference or choosing perseverance for a reason.
This is the place where he lived when he persevered as a painter and determined not to quit but to focus on growing and learning new things every day.
He lived in the yellow house with green shutters and desired to give beauty and color to everyday life through his paintings.
And this has everything to do with you and me. Life is not easy. Often, I get tempted to quit to give up. I have to work against indifference where God has put me.
Where are you? Where’s your yellow house? Where has God put you to labor, to contribute, to make a generous impact on those around you and long after you.
Interestingly, Van Gogh’s life would end two years after he painted this. Many say it was suicide. Some think he was shot. Regardless, his days were few.
So are ours. What will we do with the time given us. Let us persevere. Let us work against indifference while bringing beauty and blessing to those around us.