Talent on Loan from God

Most people reading this will recognize the title of this article and equate it with a particular radio personality. It is the opinion of this writer that the individual this article will draw attention to is not only a gifted wordsmith, but a skilled metalsmith and a dedicated shaper of young lives.

On Saturday, August 18, 2007 a group of about 20 teenagers and 8 adults gathered at the Harris Metalsmith Studio for a private demonstration of modern day blacksmithing. Matt Harris had prepared a large steel table for designing and creating a sculpted pair of steel hands. All were encouraged to participate in the creation.

After a spellbinding demonstration of shaping red-hot steel with hammer and anvil, Matt instructed the group in the art of bending steel in their bare hands. He then welded the bent steel rods into a pair of hands to be wall mounted.

Matt Harris is an extremely gifted musician and worship leader at Pleasant Hill Worship Center in Pleasant Hill, MD. Not only does he make his musical talents available to the church, but some of the worship songs that are sung there have been penned by Matt as well. He is equally at home with a Taylor acoustic guitar in his hands or seated at a Korg keyboard. Aside from all that, he is a dedicated father and husband to his daughters and his wife, Heidi.

Having had the opportunity to play music with Matt and experience his determination to get it right while interacting with his fellow musicians with patience and respect, has been a privilege for this middle-aged guitar picker. Now, having witnessed his skill in bringing near lifelike attributes to cold steel and iron has earned him, in my mind, more than the title of this blog entry intimates.

I would have to say, "Talent on loan from God" is an OK starting place, but raw talent accomplishes little and will never become skill without dedication and determination. Young Matt Harris possesses not only talent and gifting that could only come from his creator, he also has skill that has come from hours of applying and refining those gifts to the point that the end results of his efforts are both craft and art in the truest sense of the words.

No offense Rush.

You can see some examples of Matt Harris' metal creations at www.harrismetalsmith.com and harrismetalsmith.wordpress.com. You can experience his other gifts and skills at Pleasant Hill Worship Center on any given Sunday morning at 10:30.