Be Creative

Creativity is essential to soulful living.

 

We all need creative outlets because we are divine beings created in the image of God, the supreme creator.  This does not mean that we all need to sign up for the next acrylics painting class.  (Unless that’s what you want to do.) There are many things we think about and do every day that have a creative element.  Each new and original thought is a creation of yours.  Cooking, decorating, gardening, writing, fixing things, organizing the toys in a fun way, crafting an encouraging email – the list is endless – are some examples of daily creativity.

Some ways that I’m combining creativity with real life this year are:

 

Contemplative Prayer Art

– “Art can connect us with our childlike sense of wonder. When we engage art as prayer, we can remember that play is also an act of prayer, praising God out of sheer delight.” – An excerpt from Christine Paintner’s marvelously rich book, The Artist Rule.  Prayer had become a reading of wants and list of praises, not a conversation between my heart and God’s.  I’ve found that often I need to allow the process of creativity to open my heart up to God.  I will doodle, draw my prayers with colored pencils, write poems with words that God lays on my heart from a scripture, etc.  I highly recommend The Artist Rule if you’d like to allow your creative side to into your prayer time.  You want to see what this might look like, you say? Ok, I’ll add an image of one of my prayer-art creations, if you insist, but keep in mind that this type of art is about the process, not the product…

Remembering to trust God with my worries of the day and rest at night
Remembering to trust God with my worries of the day and rest at night

Acknowledging to God my desire for deeper roots, laughter, comfort and hope.
Acknowledging to God my desire for deeper roots, laughter, comfort and hope.
I noticed this door and added it to my collage art. As I looked at it, God talked to me about walking through the "unknown doors" in life and trusting in his goodness, embracing his mystery.
I noticed this door and added it to my collage art. As I looked at it, God talked to me about walking through the “unknown doors” in life and trusting in his goodness, embracing his mystery.

Online Scrapbooking

– this gives me the joy of making a pretty book AND the pleasure of remembering happy times and phases in my family’s life.

Cooking Healthy Dishes

– Getting back on the “healthy track” with what our family is eating is a culinary art that I wish to pursue.

Pinterest Hairstylin’

– Both of my daughters have taken to pinning many beautifully complicated hairstyles on Pinterest.  I would love to learn how to put their hair into a few of these.  This must be considered an art…

Blogging

– Not only am I enjoying the fun of creating this blog, but it’s been fun for me to listen to my friends’ and family members’ creative ideas and set up blog sites for them to share their wonderful art and ideas as well.  It’s like exponential blogging creativity!  Here are some of them:

  • My cousin and best friend who has battled with depression for many years, who is journal her ways of finding hope as she notices God daily: www.breathewalklive.com
  • My oldest daughter who talks about life from the unique perspective of an introverted teenager – also her photography is beginning to be displayed (and hopefully sold soon to help pay for college!): www.theintrovertedteen.com
  • My youngest daughter who works through the in’s and out’s of friendship in her middle school years: www.yourfriendhere.com
  • My mom, a woman known in these parts as a fantastically inspiring elementary science teacher, is writing down many of her cool science ideas – to be fully expanded after this school year has ended: www.coolscienceideas.com
  • My younger sister who is working on graphic designs to be sold on Etsy later this summer: www.mandyroche.com

So what are your creative outlets in this season of your life?  I’d love to hear your ideas!