The Creative Call: Beginnings

I’ve been journaling my fingers off since last Wednesday in response to the first chapter of The Creative Call. There’s a lot of stuff already emerging having to do with blockages, annoying people, and inner critics – the same stuff that always seems to come up when I do a program like this. The difference, though, is that through it all the voice of the author comes through time and time again in this chapter: You are a creative person because God made you that way. And He made you that way so you can be a part of His continuing creation of the world.

One of the exercises in chapter one was to write my own definition of "artist" by completing this statement “I think an artist is….”

Here is my definition: I think an artist is a conduit of God’s grace through whom God exercises his role as Creator. God does not need us in order for Him to be the Creator, but He desires to share that role with us and the blessings that come from it.

Creative people are compelled to make art, make music, write, act, cook, garden, build furniture, design websites, fix computers, et cetera because they are wired to do so. Since we were crafted that way, then it is obvious that to not develop our talents and exercise them is, at best, not living up to our potential, and at worst – to use “churchy” vocabulary – living outside the will of God.

So this chapter offers an amazing affirmation to all creatives. With this, you would think we could just close the book and get on with our work.

No.

The chapter goes on to ask pointed questions about the obstacles to creativity. For me, namely, it’s other people and my own self. Okay, it’s mostly my own self, but I can go on and on about both me and them.

The author, however, is quick to point out that even though the Critics in our lives may be a hindrance, we will learn in future chapters how to stop blaming them and begin forgiving.

Forgiveness? Oy! I think I need to buy a lot more paper to journal on.

This first chapter opened with some verses from the Gospel of John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made. Without Him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:1-3). This seems an appropriate verse in a discussion about the creative action of God and artists, so in response to this passage, I felt compelled to make this image:

"John One:One-Three" (Digital Painting)

ljgloyd (c) 2012