With these six pieces of armor and weapons, we have the ability to defeat every Goliath in our lives. We have the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Just as David defeated Goliath with one stone and a sling, we as Christians have our own weapons and armor. Ultimately, I believe everyone’s biggest Goliath is wrestling with human nature. For some people, Goliath may be dealing with a frustrating person while for others taking a leap of faith and going to college is the giant waiting to be slain. However, I will be called to fight “daily Goliaths.” I am not just speaking about the times when I have hit rock bottom, or when life seems to have fallen apart. As I reflect on my life today, I realize I will most likely not be called to cross the valley and battle with a strong, giant warrior. While I was standing before this amazing sculpture of a young shepherd, I could not help but be overwhelmed with great conviction. Michelangelo included the stones in his right hand and the sling over his left shoulder in order to emphasize that David’s victory was one of cleverness and force.
I Samuel 17 tells the famous story of David’s victory over Goliath using five stones and a sling. David depicts the biblical hero and young shepherd poised for battle. Located in the Academia Gallery in Florence, Italy, the statue stands an impressive 14 feet tall.
#AGONY AND ECSTASY MICHELANGELO NOT WANTING TO PAINT FULL#
Michelangelo, the world renowned artist, spent two full years of his life intricately carving The David, starting in the year of 1501. But as soon as we rounded the corner and saw The David, the thought of comfy clothes and gelato seemed far less important. I caught myself staring at these lifelike sculptures- and wishing they had more clothes- and expecting them to hop off their platforms and head down the street to grab some Nutella gelato! I started taking for granted the beauty of the numerous works of art because we saw so many in such a short amount of time. Many of the marble statues I have come across this past week had the most intricate details, like soft cloth, bouncy hair, and pulsing veins. “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”įrom mountain top to museum, and piazza to the Pantheon, I have seen amazing sculptures here in Europe. Michelangelo reinforced the importance of working hard-even if I don’t want to-because the struggle produces fruit…and ecstasy. Despite Michelangelo not wanting to paint at all, his work brought ecstasy to him and to his viewers for over five-hundred and twelve years. We find ourselves in difficult situations, agonizing over words, efforts, and our own weaknesses. Michelangelo did not want to paint the Sistine Chapel he preferred to work with marble. Ever had to do something really difficult that you felt incapable of doing? Like writing a blog? Oh, the agony of it all! The life and art of this mere man, reminds me of the tough and mountainous things we are faced with in life as Christ followers. Some of the hardest commissions that Michelangelo had to complete during his career are some of the greatest pieces in art history. This is exactly what Michelangelo struggled with, the agony of failing and trying to succeed in the impossible, and yet he felt pure ecstasy in his finished work. I listened closely to the guide describing the painting and the artist, and two words came to mind: agony and ecstasy. I now find myself in the Uffizi gallery in Florence, Italy standing at eye-level with one of Michelangelo’s first paintings, Todo Dani.
I am awestruck with this masterpiece and infatuated with the artist behind the brush. Michelangelo questions his ability to handle a paint brush, and he is torn between his faith and and his interest in the classics, but eventually he completes the spectacular Sistine Chapel.
It brings to life the conflict between Michelangelo and Pope Julius II and the painting of the Sistine Chapel. Prior to the senior trip, I re-watched one of my favorite films, “The Agony and the Ecstasy,” starring Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison.
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