'Reader's Digest Condensed' Show NotesIn this episode, I'm talking with author and illustrator Jennifer Trafton about her book
If Only We Could See: Reimagining Creativity, Compassion, and Calling Through the Extraordinary Life of Lilias Trotter.
I was fascinated by Lilias Trotter's story! Lilias, or Lily, was a brilliant Victorian-era artist who turned down a promising art career and eventually became a missionary in Algeria — but her story is about so much more than missions.
Jennifer and I talk about Christian calling, creative vocation (Lily never gave up art itself!), compassion, imagination, and following God when your life doesn't fit the world's expectations.
We also explore Lily's unique way of "seeing" — how her artistic training taught her to look closely at the world and all its people with humility, curiosity, and love.
And Jennifer explains why Lily's example may have something to teach Christians in today's divided world.
Unabridged Show NotesIn this episode, I'm talking with author and illustrator Jennifer Trafton about her book
If Only We Could See, a biography of the remarkable Lilias Trotter.
Lilias, or Lily, was a gifted artist who lived in Victorian England and spent the latter half of her life as a missionary in Algeria. She was mentored by influential art critic John Ruskin, who believed she could become a successful professional artist. Yet Lily ultimately chose not to give herself wholly to an artistic career.
Years later, she would become a missionary — but her decision was never simply "art versus missions." Lily was always an artist, both literally and spiritually. Her artistic way of seeing remained central to the way she lived, served, and loved others.
Jennifer shares how she first discovered Lily, and why Lily's unconventional life immediately resonated with her. Lily became a kind of mentor to Jennifer as she wrestled with questions of vocation, creativity, and following God down unusual paths.
One of the central ideas in both Lily's life and Jennifer's book is
seeing. Lily repeatedly wrote about wishing she could help other people see what she was seeing. Influenced by John Ruskin's teaching, she came to understand careful observation as something much deeper than an artistic skill. Seeing clearly could lead to love, spiritual growth, prayer, service, and action.
Jennifer explains how this artistic way of seeing shaped Lily's missionary work. Rather than approaching diverse Algerian communities with preconceived ideas about their cultures or needs, Lily learned to observe, listen, receive, and encounter the actual person in front of her.
We also talk about Lily's younger years in London, including her work with young working women through the YWCA and her efforts to meet practical needs in creative ways.
Finally, Jennifer shares the scripture that comes to mind when she thinks about Lily: Jesus' teaching about losing one's life in order to save it. Lily repeatedly laid things down without knowing what God would do with those sacrifices — and Jennifer finds encouragement in seeing how God ultimately brought fruit from them.
In This Episode
Lilias Trotter's Extraordinary Life
- Who Lilias Trotter was
- Her life as a Victorian-era artist and missionary
- Why she turned down a promising artistic career
- Her years serving working women in London
- How she eventually followed God's call to Algeria
Calling, Vocation, and Creativity
- What Lily teaches us about Christian calling
- Why vocation doesn't always fit neatly into a box
- The danger of feeling like we have to choose one path forever
- Staying "nimble" and responsive to the Holy Spirit
- How Lily continued to be an artist on the mission field
Learning to See
- Why seeing clearly was so important to Lily
- What John Ruskin taught her about art and observation
- How careful observation can become a form of worship
- Seeing real people, not our preconceived ideas about them
- How imagination can lead to love, prayer, and action
Art, Compassion, and Christian Mission
- How Lily's artistic training shaped her missionary work
- Encountering people with humility and receptiveness
- Lily's love for the Muslim people
- Her relational approach to sharing the gospel
- What Christians today can learn from her example
Lilias Trotter for Today's Divided World
- What Lily's life has to say about empathy
- Why Christians need to learn to truly see one another
- Moving beyond fear and preconceived ideas
- Loving people before engaging in political arguments
- What it might look like to show — not merely tell — people that Jesus loves them
The Faithfulness of a Life Laid Down
- Lily's sacrifices
- What she gave up without knowing what God would do
- How God allowed her art to flourish in unexpected ways
- How she became a spiritual mother to many
- Trusting God with the things we lay down
Books & Resources Mentioned
- If Only We Could See: Reimagining Creativity, Compassion, and Calling Through the Extraordinary Life of Lilias Trotter — Jennifer Trafton
- Many Beautiful Things: The Life and Vision of Lilias Trotter — documentary directed by Laura Waters Hinson
- A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter — Miriam Huffman Rockness
Who This Episode Is For
- Christians wrestling with questions of calling or vocation
- Artists and other creatives trying to follow God with their gifts
- Women whose lives don't fit traditional expectations
- Readers interested in Christian / missionary biographies
- Christians interested in missions and Christian-Muslim relationships
- Anyone who feels like they don't fit neatly into a box
- Readers interested in Lilias Trotter, Victorian history, art, faith, and creativity
- Anyone who wants to learn to see people with greater compassion
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Oh My Word with Katie?
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A Question to Reflect OnWhere might God be inviting you to set aside your preconceived ideas — to really see the person, place, or calling in front of you?
