The Struggle of Creativity

Writing is hard. Just the other day I sat at my computer, a story in my head that I wanted to put down on paper. By the time I walked away the screen I had less then a page, an incomplete scene. The story was still in my head but I couldn't seem to get it on the page, at least not completely. Instead I walked away with just a partial image. And yet the next day I went back to that page to try again. Why do we do it? Why do we struggle with this thing we call art?

Painters do it every time they step up to a canvas, writers do it, dancers and performers do it when they walk on to a stage, woodworkers do it when they pick up a board, all artists do it. Many artists describe it as almost a compulsion, they can't not create. And those who aren't artists also have a need or a desire to enjoy art. There's something magical about connecting to a performance, a song, a picture that stimulates your emotions or transports you to a different time or place.

What is it? Why do we create? Why do we enjoy the creativity of others? Why do we find that, throughout history, there have been artists and those who've appreciated their work?

I believe the first part of that answer is found in Genesis 1:27, "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

We were created by a creative God. And we were created in His image. I believe that's where that desire to create comes from. And as for the appreciation of creativity Genesis 1:31 says "God saw that he had made, and it was very good..." God didn't just create us and our world and everything in it then ignore it, He saw it, I think maybe He studied it like an painter studies a painting, but unlike us human artists He didn't see imperfections because His creation was perfect, and He saw that. So He stepped back and saw that it was good.

But here's the rest of the equation in Galatians 6:5 The Voice says "each person has his or her own burden to hear and story to write." The Message words it a bit differently "each of you must take responsibility for fulfilling the creative best you can with your own life."

We've all been made in God's image, we've all been given this desire to create and an appreciation for creativity. Sometimes it's creating things like stories or pictures or a performance, sometimes it's different. Finding ways to creatively teach so different kids can finally connect with the lesson. Finding ways to create a dinner for your family or organize your house is another form of creativity.

Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters..."

What has God given you to create today? Are you struggling to create something? Don't give up, keep going back to that paper, that canvas, that stage, or that stove, or classroom, wherever it is that God has given you to be creative with remember, that desire came from the Lord and do all things unto Him.

C.S. Lewis' Advice in a Letter

John 3:30 "He must become greater, I must become less."

In The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III
Compiled in Yours, Jack

C.S Lewis quotes John 3:30 and talks about this concept that John the Baptist was describing. In his letter he talks about the fact that this process will never be completed in our world. It can't be. The best we can hope for is to get a good start and get a little further along as the years go on. 

He also talks about the fact that we can't see this change taking place. We don't have a real clear perspective on ourselves, only God sees our heart. Have you ever listened to an audio recording of yourself? It doesn't sound like your voice does it? But others can identify it as you. It only sounds different because you're hearing your own voice as everyone else always does.

It's similar with our own hearts. We can be deceptive about our motives and intentions, we can even deceive ourselves. The only one we can't deceive is God. He always knows the truth. 

C.S. Lewis goes on in his letter to apparently answer a question to his friend. He says that as for what you can do about this concept of the Lord increasing as we decrease you can go on living your life and rejoicing in what God has given you. He references Philippians 4:4 at this point which reads "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice."

This is my favorite part in the letter. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to do everything just right. We think we have to force ourselves to complete some kind of ritual or be absolutely perfect in order to draw closer to the Lord but the fact is that it's just not true. That's why Jesus came, and why He ultimately ascended to heaven again, to give us the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us today. So that as we seek the Lord in our daily lives we draw closer to Him day by day. Rarely does it happen in epic leaps and bounds, rarely do we see the small, incremental changes taking place in us but He is working and we are changing, even if we don't realize it. So why not enjoy the process, the journey, and the blessings He's given us today. And as we enjoy those things, and we thank Him and praise Him for those things our hearts will change and we will begin to decrease as He increases. 

One last point, as C.S. Lewis finishes his letter he says something truly remarkable.

"As to your spiritual state, try my plan. I pray 'Lord, show me just show much (neither more nor less) about myself as I need for doing thy will now."

Now that is some incredible advice from a man who truly sought for the Lord to increase and himself to decrease.

A Prayer for the People

Reading in my Bible the other day I came to Paul's letter to the church in Colosse. I was struck by his great love for this church and it's people, people that he had never met face to face. This is the love of God and the joy we get from knowing others who share our faith. It brings about a sweetness in fellowship unlike any other.

Paul tells the people exactly what he and his coworkers in the ministry are praying for them. It's found in Colossians 1 starting in verse 9.

"So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened will all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins."

Paul's letter continues from here and reminds the believers that Christ is supreme, admonishes them to stand firm in the truth and cites his own qualifications as God's chosen emissary to the Gentiles but it's those verses, nine through fourteen, that I really want to focus on today.

First Paul tells them that they have not stopped praying for them since they first heard about the church. Can you imagine? You're a new church of believers and you learn that this very famous apostle and his group of coworkers are praying for you. That would be pretty extraordinary! But he doesn't stop there, he explains what they're praying for.

Complete knowledge of the Lord's will and for you to have spiritual wisdom and understanding. Yeah, there's times I think we'd all like a healthy dose of that!

That the way you live will always honor and please the Lord and that your lives will produce every kind good fruit and continue to grow as you learn more and more about God.
Paul says they also pray that church will be strengthened, filled with joy and always thanking God for what He's done for them.

 Is there a better prayer that you could ask for? After all aren't these the things that we're striving after?

That's what I love so much about this prayer that Paul prays for the church in Colosse. Next time you're trying to pray for someone or a group of people, or even if you're praying for yourself, and you're not sure what words to use go take a look at this prayer in Colossians 1. I think you'll be inspired by what you find there.

Teachable Moments

Do you remember sitting in a class you hated at school, just staring at the clock counting down the minutes? I do. Because you hate it so much you may not learn much. (This is why review tests in school are imlortant.) That can be the problem with sitting someone down and trying to teach them something specific.

Now before we go too far let me just put in a disclaimer. I'm not writing against school or scheduled learning times or anything like that. I'm not even writing about the education we get at school or the subjects we study there. I'm writing about life lessons.

My older brother is two years older then me. And he's always had a knack for finding these teachable moments in life in the midst of just everyday activities. For instance we were driving to or from youth group one night, he was driving and I didn't have my license yet. It was well after dark and he started explaining to me how to keep from being blinded by oncoming headlights. You don't look at the oncoming car but focus your attention on the fog line so you stay in your lane without ruining your night vision.

To this day when I'm driving at night I still think about him teaching me that when we were teenagers. He always did stuff like that, took those random, everyday moments and used them to teach me something important.

God's like that too. If we're paying attention we can find His lessons and reminders of His love in everything you do. Walking down the street and seeing a flower growing up in the sidewalk cracks might remind you that He can turn even the most broken situations and plant something beautiful in the ruins.

There's lessons all around us, every day God uses our lives and decisions to present us with teachable moments, moments that He wants to teach us something and moments that He offers us to teach someone else. But if we're not paying attention we miss those moments all together.

What's God teaching you today? Or what is He giving you the opportunity to teach someone else?