Tonight I’m doing something a little different in that I’m running a creative workshop and teaching people a technique called Paint Pouring. Primarily because I want to share what I’ve discovered and the fun I’ve found in it.
Albert Einstein once said, “creativity is intelligence having fun”, yet in a world filled with stereotypes we often find ourselves labelling people and in doing so perhaps shutting down our God given ability to create. It’s as if people think they are capable of only being one or two things, yet we are multi dimensional creatures and far more capable than we imagine, with gifts and talents we often haven’t even discovered yet.
I believe God’s gift to us is to be creative in some way and I’ve discovered it’s often His way of renewing, restoring and strengthening our lives. Because we are created in the image of God I believe that within each one of us rests creativity far more than we imagine. Some would say the human spirit lives on creativity and dies in conformity and routine.
When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity we open ourselves to God. When we don’t seek to be creative it is counter to our true nature.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them”. (Genesis 1:27)
When we think about being creative its helpful to remember that: We don’t create for others. We don’t create to impress or be the best. We create, because we can.
What if you don’t know what your gift is — what you’re supposed to create? The answer is simple: Just try something!
A great way to unleash our creativity is to make a creativity date. A time set apart to explore. Creativity is coaxed and not forced from within us, and it helps to give ourselves permission to stop “working” and to take an adventure.
I encourage you today to not get too comfortable in the space you are in. Creative people don’t settle for seeing things for what they are, they choose to see things for what they can be.
We so need to give ourselves space to breathe, flourish and grow. Keep experimenting and looking at things in a different way, dream, invent and explore until you find something you enjoy, something you love — and then keep doing it. It doesn’t have to be world-class or a work of genius. It doesn’t even have to be “artistic” — because creativity can be found anywhere. It just has to matter to you..
I love this quote by Julie Cameron, “One only need observe the natural world to see that God revels in adventure: cliffs, jungles, waterfalls, deserts, mountains, seas. When we take time for discovery we put ourselves in the presence of the Great Adventurer. As we are outward bound, we sense an inward grace.”
Be blessed as you take some time out this week to connect with your inner adventurer and creative self.
“And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze” (Exodus 35:30)
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; (Psalm 139:13-16)
Prayer: Lord would you please help me to make time and space in myself to be creative in whatever form that most suits who you’ve made me to be. In Jesus name Amen.
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