Surrendered Creativity

I think about creativity a lot. Why did God make us creative beings? Besides the fact that we are created in His image and, well, He is the Master Creator of every living and non-living thing on earth and beyond.

Maybe we are meant to relate to God through creativity. Think about it, the Bible, it's chock full of poetry, songs, and stories. It's not charts, graphs and other linear forms of communication. God chose to communicate Truth to us through this artistic book that's been around for over 2000 years. He knows stories and poetry provoke deep emotion and speaks to the human heart. Art is powerful that way.

I don't think we fully tap into our complete creative potential. Sure, we can creatively navigate around backed up traffic on our way to work. And we problem solve - remember the old TV show, "MacGyver"? He could turn a bicycle frame into a blowtorch or disarm a bomb with a hockey ticket. Now, that is some creative problem solving. But I'm talking about something much deeper and more mysterious.

I'm talking about the creativity that comes with slowing down and being present in the moment. Maybe taking a walk around a lake and admiring God's artistic handiwork in the blooming trees with buds as green as a kiwi's interior. Being aware of the sound of a squawking hawk floating on the wind above your head. We connect to God through interacting with His creation. We also interact with God through our creativity.

Last year, I felt compelled to paint an image of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. I've never painted before, so of course I pushed the nudge off to the back burner. However, the longing grew stronger and one day I could fight it no more. Very anxious, I sat on the floor of my bedroom with a rainbow of acyclic paints and various brushes sprawled out in front of me. And of course, that screaming white canvas. "Where do I even begin? Jesus, help me paint this image of You. Please, guide my hand, choose the colors. This is for You." And there I sat, praying...then, I slowly felt drawn to a few colors so I squirted a little out on the palate. I chose a brush, dipped it into water and dabbed the end into the paint. "Jesus, guide my hand, guide my color." With a deep breath, I lifted my hand, then my brush gently met the canvas and that is where it all began.

That painting was completed a few months later, and it's not all that bad, if you ask me. My first painting, as scary as it was, became a place where my creative spirit mingled with the Holy Spirit and together - we created a work of art. It was truly a sacred experience. A form of worship for the One who created me - to create that painted image of Jesus. I connected with God intimately through the act of surrendered creativity.

When we slow down our lives in order to prayerfully create, He can speak to us in a very unique and powerful way. He created us so that we can meet Him through His creation and through our creativity. That is very cool.

So, how is God calling you to surrender your creativity?

Enjoy the journey...

grace & peace ~ deAnn

Click here to see my painting, "Garden Prayer." It's not technically correct, I'm sure an art professor would say, but it's what developed when prayer and surrendered creativity intersected.