Bob Ross and Christian Existentialism

Who didn't like relaxing to the sounds of Bob Ross' (1942-1995) soothing voice and seeing the amazing transformation of the canvas with some simple brushstrokes?

After watching some videos there's a few things I've gleaned from Bob Ross as I filter them through my own worldview.

1. We don't make mistakes, we just have happy little accidents.

Now right away I want to say, we actually DO make "mistakes", and pretty awful ones at that (Romans 6:23), but if you believe that God is ultimately in control of all history and all events (Isaiah 45:7...amongst many others) and that God has a plan for your life which cannot be thwarted and you are open to this, then Bob Ross is absolutely right. In life, as well as paintings, at a metaphysical level, or a divine level, (in God's eyes via Christ) we don't make mistakes, we just have happy little accidents. (If I might be so blasphemous)

If you make mistakes in life, or on the canvas, don't brood on whats been done. Chances are, you've already learned from it, and better still, its already time to get moving again. You might be surprised what beautiful things can come out of what look on life's canvas to be terrible errors or deviations from "the plan". All things work together for good for those that love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) God didn't save us so we could beat ourselves up for our lack of holiness, but so that we could share with him the joy of recreating the world in His image.

2. If it makes you happy, do it; and do your best at it, because that is how we make others happy.

Again I can take a bunch of verses out of context and preach some kind of convoluted heretical sermon leading you to moral corruption; but of course what I'm meaning is that the conscience and squawking voices from others can condition our thinking about what we ought to be doing with our lives.

I can't tell you how many times I've read examples of people who have given up everything or taken enormous risks to do what made them happy; and when they did, it made them heroes and benefactors for the rest of humanity and in some cases, great servants of God. This is just general wisdom: don't do something if it makes you miserable. It might sound stupidly simple, but I do not think it a great leap to say that a great many people are miserable in what they do but don't change their job or change their attitudes.

You can waste a lot of time being miserable doing something you hate or doubting something you love. Do what makes you happy, "Lets have a little fun." and do your best at it, and it will make others happy. Don't be ashamed of it. Bob often talked about being who you are when you paint: you have to do the same thing when you live. God made you a beautiful scene. Its your job to present it back to Him on canvas.

3. Beat the Devil out of it!

If you've ever watched Bob Ross paint you'll know that he derives great pleasure from beating the brush after cleaning it in his "odourless thinner". You have to beat the devil out of your paintbrush daily: if you start painting with old colours and the wrong mix, your painting isn't going to look right.

The paintbrush of life? It is the heart. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

Watch what colours are getting into your brush. The wrong ingredients can choke out the colours you intended.

4. Make big decisions.

It sounded funny when Ross used to say that in his happy little paintings that "we have to make some big decisions here". But this is perhaps the most interesting little effluence from Bob Ross I have ever heard.

There are of course an infinite number of things that one could paint on a canvas. That's scary enough without realizing that one's life is exactly the same conundrum. We don't want to screw it up...so we stop painting. (Or so we think). But you are painting. There's no such thing as not making a choice. You are making a choice: a choice to do something or nothing. Each of these will have consequences. (This is an idea found in existentialism more generally as well)

Make decisions. Sin bravely as Martin Luther said so many years ago. Don't let naysaying prevent you from doing the most outlandish things: so long as you are aware of the consequences, and who you'll have to answer to in the end.

Rejoice young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgement for all these things... (Ecclesiastes 11:9)

While you still have life and breath "whatever your hand finds for you to do, verily do it with all your might..." Whether you like it or not, you're painting your life. You might as well be making big decisions for God rather than letting the world, flesh and devil make them for you.

Lastly: 5. Everybody needs a (happy little) friend.

Don't try to do life on your own. You don't have to have a lot of friends, you just need a few good ones. "A man of many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)

Conclusion

Bob Ross was in the air force for many years, and you might be surprised to learn that his soothing voice, according to Ross's wikipedia article, was once used to ream out air force personnel. You can read the short bio yourself from the link. I can't tell you if Bob Ross was a committed Christian or what he viewed as his happy little accidents in life. I can tell you this much however, that Bob Ross lived for the joy of painting. What or who am I living for, and what am I doing about it?

"God bless my friend, and goodbye for now."