It can tempting as a writer (and an indie author, no less, with all the battles and struggles that entails) to look at all the chaos, violence, and instability in the world and say, “Forget it. No one’s going to appreciate what I create in times like these. There is no point creating art in times like these.”

The truth is, art never matters MORE than in times like these: when we are tempted to focus too much on external chaos and problems. In these times, art is there not only as escapism, to console us, but to remind us that we are more than material creatures and that there is more to our humanity and human life than brute survival or material flourishing.

Man is the creature who questions “Why?” He ponders the eternal questions: what is life for? Why am I here? Is there more than this? What does it matter? What is the value of love and sacrifice? Is there a purpose or meaning to suffering?

The arts draw out the fullness of our humanity. They invite us to ponder these deeper, specifically human questions. From one way of thinking, the arts are what make us human–for only we are capable of them.

It is especially in dark and uncertain times that the arts matter. They are a kind of defiance against the darkness–no, I will NOT stop being human just because the world is ugly right now and society is collapsing .

So create on, my friends. And read on.