While Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is arguably one of the world’s most famous works of art, if you’ve ever  seen it (whether in-person at the Louvre in Paris or in photos online)  you’ll know that it hangs on a plain, tan wall in a large, mostly-empty  room. The original rationale for such simplicity of presentation was to  help patrons avoid “museum fatigue” caused by over-stimulation. But a  2017 study vindicated the decision as it found that “appreciating beauty  takes conscious thought—and therefore, distracting a person can prevent  them from fully taking in the work of art before them.” Simply stated:  Beauty is best appreciated when undistracted. The same is true of  following Jesus. The Christian life is a beautiful thing, but when we’re  distracted—by sin, tradition, culture, or preferences—its enjoyment and  effectiveness can be diminished.

Key Passage: Matthew 9:9–17

Speaker: Josiah Boyd