Honestly, I hate that title.  The ART of people?  Really?  I would much rather say “The Science of People” or “People Are Completely Predictble.”  But alas (apologies to my thirst for having a logical explanation for EVERYTHING), I cannot.

It’s because people are messy.  They are unpredictable.  They love you. Then they hate you.  Then they love you again, often without explanation.  And tha’s just people.  Even as art goes, we people aren’t a clear picture.  It’s not like we’re the Mona Lisa or some grand naturescape.  No, it’s more like my two-year-old took a crayon to a piece of paper and went crazy.  Lines everywhere.  Coloring everywhere.  (Even on the walls of my kitchen!)

Abstract art, at best.  That’s what we are. 

I was just reading about Jesus’ own frustrations with people when he says in Luke 7, “John the Baptist didn’t come eating and drinking wine, and you said that he was possessed by a demon.  But I came eating and drinking, and you call me a glutton and a drunkard.”  Translation:  Make your stinking minds up people!  Even Jesus realizes that people are unpredictable art.  And oh by the way, Jesus is THE artist.  (I guess that you wouldn’t expect less from an artist the stature of Jesus:  wild, vivid, captivating (did I mention wild?) art. 

I say all of that to say that a key to happiness in life is remembering that people are just people.  Capable of such beautiful things, but nonetheless, abstract.  Your preacher, your husband, your best friend cannot be predicted.  They are people.  They will inspire you.  And they will disappoint you.  And in those moments, remember that you are looking at art, not a math textbook.  Remember that the price of all of that beauty we are capable of is that sometimes (okay, a lot of the times) people don’t perform as we expect they will.

Abstract art, at best.  That’s what we are.