Create Without Fear

I love the book by Brenda Ueland, "If You Want To Write." She encourages us to work at our writing or whatever creative thing we like to do. Our culture tells us that duty comes first. But I'm exploring Brenda's thoughts as her words penetrate my heart and make a home in my soul. She says:

"Duty should be a by-product. Writing, the creative effort, the use of imagination, should come first, at least for some part of everyday of yourlife. It is a wonderful blessing if you will use it. You will become a happier, more enlightened, alive, impassioned, light-hearted and generous to every body else. Even your health will improve. Colds will disappear and all the other ailments of discouragement and boredom."

Sometimes I feel the creative urge and it's intense. Know what I mean? You desire to create something, anything, but a force holds you back. Stuff like this enters your thoughts: It's not important - you have other things that demand your time!

This is silly, but I have a pile of canvases of all sizes leaning against a wall in my bedroom. I've begun quite a nice collection of colorful acrylic paints and all kinds of brushes too. It's all there. Waiting for me. Calling to me. I ignore it. WHY? What's holding me back? Well, maybe the fact that I've never painted outside of elementary school???? What if my painting is horrible? What if people laugh? What if I laugh? Really, I have to ask myself, what would be so bad about that?

Then, if I listen carefully, I hear in the back of my mind a tiny quiet voice, "Create. Just sit before the canvas. Allow Me to move your hands and guide your colors. It will be beautiful, I promise. Relax. Leave your fear aside and create because you are My creation."

Okay, despite the scariness, what creative genre are you drawn too? Or maybe you have, say - painted, but it's been some time because life got busy. Now the brushes are covered with dust and the canvases have yellowed and dried out. Do you hear God's voice calling you to meet with Him through your creativity? Listen and see where He takes you...

Enjoy the journey ~ peace