What's Art Got to Do with Healing?

PATH is going to begin spicing up its newsletter with a touch of art. Why, you may ask, is a healing ministry that provides support after abortion interested in featuring  artists in its newsletter?
Because philosophers and theologians alike agree that art has the ability to facilitate a form of healing; art can lead our hearts and minds to reflect on what is good and God-like in the world. Art has the ability to propel us to reflect on harmony, beauty, and truth. Many retreats utilize art as a way for participants to memorialize their new found healing. Saints have said that art has the ability to feed the soul, awaken it, and bring it to life as nothing else can. Doesn’t God’s healing touch do the same? 
Some even go as far as to say that “beauty will change the world”. It turns out that art and healing have a lot in common. Our heavenly father is a master artist as He weaves something new out of our broken lives; who but God could accomplish such beauty from ashes? God creates a work of beauty when he takes our broken, hardened hearts and makes them wise, loving, strong, and kind. Art reminds us that transcendent goodness lives among us and excites us to continue the search for the source of goodness Himself, God.  
Generally speaking, people are moved by different types of art, but the subjective experience from viewing art is similar in all human beings. Art appeals to our sense of visual goodness, thereby expanding our hearts and pulling us into the mystery and wonder of life.  It has the ability to help us form connections between the body and the mind, loosen up our freedom of expression, and to elevate our hearts above the commonplace to the mysterious. Healing does the same thing; it is forever a mystery that is difficult to explain but whose good effect is felt and known deep within our hearts.  
Most of us who have been involved with PATH;  whether as participants, facilitators, or donors, have experienced healing on some level and want to share it. We have been touched by God’s healing hands. God continues to use healing and artists to say, “goodness and beauty are real; I am here among you,” to a broken world.  As a result, PATH will be sharing artists and their work with you as a reminder to us that just as artists create something beautiful for God, healing does too. Your gifts of time and money have  inspired and motivated us to continue creating something good and eternal for God through facilitating healing in others. Thank you, fellow artists!