“In this day and age, it may seem anachronistic to aspire to eternal works, or to ask for help from God with a painting or a poem. But we do not have any chance of accomplishing the first without the second.”

E. Lily Yu wrote the above sentence in the last section of her book, Break Blow Burn & Make, where she shares her thoughts as a writer and how it intersects with her faith as a Christian. The dynamic, and sometimes contentious, bond between Christianity and the arts has always held my interest. Yu’s book is the most recent addition to the series of books I’ve read on this subject recently. What distinguished Break Blow Burn & Make from other books I’ve encountered was its focus on a writer’s viewpoint, a departure from the typical visual artist’s perspective.

Yu’s book is structured into three parts: the first explores the connection between writer and reader, the second delves into the art of writing, and the third examines an artist’s spiritual connection. This book seemed to be a blend of a manifesto, an inspirational work, and a sermon all at once. Throughout the first third of the book, Yu’s dedication to the writer-reader relationship was palpable, and many of her arguments felt familiar and true to me. Her insight in the book’s second section, about writers needing the courage to write according to divine will rather than seeking public approval, was understandable to me. In the book’s final section, I contemplated her message to artists, urging them to discover God within their art and permit Him to direct their creative endeavors.

Break Blow Burn & Make is a valuable addition to the emerging field of Christianity and Art and will be a permanent fixture on my bookshelf. There is a lot of reflection needed on my end after reading Yu’s book. Is a genuine connection possible between American Evangelical Christianity (Catholic and Eastern Orthodox believers seem to understand this connection better) and art, or is art destined to be viewed as a marketplace dictating that artists create pieces that only soothe our need for reassurance? Yu proposes a different perspective, suggesting that a sincere relationship with our creator greatly benefits our artistic callings.