SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

The many paths and practices of love, compassion and sacred wisdom.

I get so much joy from creating that I'm always encouraging others to join in.
~ Myrna Wacknov

I admit, the creative life that lays below the surface of my heart is a scardy-cat. It takes serious positive self talk to even get out my pencils and sketch pad! Crazy, I know, But we generally hear that "inner critic" and listen to that voice instead of the One who created the creativity within us. That is why we need one another, to encourage creativity. The Triune God created community. I think that is something we should do as well. We need each other, a creative community, in which to explore the creative life that was given to each of us by the Triune God. We need encouragement from one another to live into the creative being within each of us. I'm a creative person. It has taken me a long time to finally allow those words to cross over my lips. Not sure why, exactly...maybe if I "admit" that to myself there is some kind of responsibility to actually create something unique and original. And that is a lot of pressure.

Just like you, my life has seasons. Sometimes I am crazy busy, no time to think, create or care for my soul. In those times, I'm dry, distant and feel a wee bit lost and can't seem to find my way back to me, let alone God. Other times I feel like blooming. I'll enroll in any class I can just to learn something new: a stained glass class, a jewelry class, a pottery class--all at the same time!

What creative season are you in? Maybe it's a blooming season? A place where God is calling you to try something new? Or maybe God is calling you back to an interest which has been shelved due to the demands of adult life? Or maybe you are in the "dog days of summer" where creativity is low, or feels dry. Don't ignore the little nudges you feel to create. Listen, and let God surprise you...

~ deAnn Roe
Vertical Creativity

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