deTheos

Borrowed creativity

I do not consider myself an artist. Nor do I think I am very creative. I am an appreciator of art, particularly of graphic design and photographry. Certainly no expert, and probably not even a connoisseur, but definitely an admirer of a well-design logo or website, or other piece of graphic design.

My ideas for creating things usually come from seeing. I guess I borrow ideas, and then divert from them with my own flavor or twist. My creatively is borrowed creativity. Theologically I believe that all creatively is borrowed. Borrowed from God. Just that most of us do not realize it, and worse, are not explicitly grateful to Him for it. He is the great and glorious Creator of all, the One who spoke the world into being in a word. We gain our identity by being formed in His glorious image, and borrow a finite bit of His infinite ability as Creator.

That reminds me of the 26th question of the Heidelberg Catechism:

(Q) What do you believe when you say: ‘I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?’

(A) That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and all that is in them, and who still upholds and governs them by His eternal counsel and providence, is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father.

In Him I trust so completely as to have no doubt that He will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul, and will also turn to my good whatever adversity He sends me in this life of sorrow.

He is able to do so as almighty God,
and willing also as a faithful Father.

Kari and I are reading a book by Don Postema, Space for God (where I was reminded of Question 26 above), for our Prayer class this semester. One assignment is to read a chapter in the book and spend an hour reflecting on the themes and concepts. No need to hurry through it, nor even to finish the whole chapter. Simply be, and think and muse to the glory of God and the joy of our souls. It is a great and glorious thing to be happy in God. He certainly is happy in us when we hold Him (Father, Son and Spirit) as the desire of our souls and the chief Object of our affections. He is not one of many affections, as our pastor reminded us this morning, but The chief affection in our life. God is the One who deserves to be at the foremost of our thoughts and ambitions. I want to be with God and to enjoy Him eternally, and right now.

That brings me back to the concept of creativity. I find that my mind is not very sharp, let alone creative, when I am short of prayer and long on a list of tasks to do. Sort of like running on empty, without fuel to go the extra mile mentally. People ask questions, but there is not clarity of thought for a good response. Also, when I am most busy I sometimes lack the awareness to pause and pray, and especially to stop (everything altogether) and allow God to be the Object of my mind and heart. It is so easy, if I do pause in the moment, to simply ask God to bless my plans, even if I use the ‘right’ words like “God, I only want what You desire … my hands are open, not holding on to what I think is best or needful….” My heart can sometimes actually be asking Him to bless what I want to do — hypocrisy. I pray my character would rail against that tendency more and more and help me to be authentic and genuine, letting my words flow for the reality of my being.

I would not say it is effortless to be in the center of God’s will (e.g., see the Apostle Paul’s life in Acts in the New Testament, or his recounting of those trials in 2 Corinthians 11; also see Hebrews 11). On the contrary, it takes the most effort to grasp Him, to love and enjoy Him — yet that is what we were created to do. As Postema reminded, in the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), Mary was working just as hard in worshiping at Jesus’ feet as Martha was busy in the kitchen.

Being spent in the middle of His will, both working and praying, while being renewed day by day according to His good pleasure and grace (2 Corinthians 4:16). In those times I am not spinning my wheels but rather digging deeper into His purpose and plan and finding my true identity. The most satisfying endeavors are the ones God assigns.

Again, that brings me back to creativity, for it is all of God’s grace that my mind is able to work at all. And as I think — and pray — daily and in each task and trial that comes my way, I am able to experience God. I cry out to Him asking if I might experience Him. And in experiencing Him He renews me and illuminates my thoughts, so I can think His thoughts after Him, tapping into some of His original creativity, borrowed for the journey.

“There is no distinction between the artist and the person who has experienced God. No experiencer of God is not an artist.” (Matthew Fox, Whee, Wee, We — All the Way Home, p. 85; quoted by Postema, Space for God, p. 21)

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