The Creative Call – Beginning

I waffled back and forth on whether or not to keep blogging about this book study as I go through it, but I’ve decided I’d like to keep sharing. Even if it’s quiet out there. Intentional living is such a journey, and being intentional as an artist is part of that.

Chapter one is aptly titled Beginning. One must have a beginning, and even a re-beginning. Which is where I am. Reawakening what God originally birthed in me. A continuance of an overall journey. Just call me Frodo. A little hobbit content in the Shire, but called out into the great unknown. Where You lead, Lord, I will follow. Okay, enough LOTR.

Janice Elsheimer emphasizes how important God is in our creative process. She writes, “And through God’s Word, our creative renewal will begin as well.” God needs to be the beginning, middle, and end of our creative process. Walking with Him, growing in Him, obeying Him — these things will nurture our creativity, too.

Janice asks us to define artist. My definition: someone who creates regardless of form; one who brings beauty and creativity to life in various ways. I believe art is birthed from our hearts, our souls, our spirits. God breathes in us, and creativity is stirred.

Do you have an artist’s heart? So many times we don’t see our art in our cooking, baking, painting, homemaking, mothering, playing, writing…creativity moves in and through our beings and spills out in all we do if we allow it. If we allow God, the Creator who fashioned us in His image, to birth this in us. To nurture it in us.

I see my children, and sometimes I glimpse that natural imagination, and I long to nurture it alongside God. As a parent, I’m a partner with God. But that’s a whole other post. Her book made me think about this, and it’s something I’ll be pondering, and changing. Part of being intentional as a parent.

Do you doubt yourself? Your gifts?

Should we question what God has stirred in us? Blessed us with?

Even the great artist, composers, writers, chefs, etc. have questioned themselves, their art. Yet, they have blessed us. Thank goodness they overcame their thoughts and fears. Who is waiting for us to do the same?

I’ll end my thoughts with two more quotes from The Creative Call:

“It is the creative potential itself in human beings that is the image of God.” — Mary Daly

“Practicing your art is a form of worship, a way to use your talents to draw closer to God.” — Janice Elsheimer

This coming week:
Reflect on what was read last week.
Start or continue the Artist’s Daybook if desired.
Read and work through chapter two: Listening.
Memorize the verse at the beginning of chapter two.

I’m not doing the linky, but if anyone chooses to join, you are welcome to share here on this post, or in the Facebook group.