Created for Creativity

Scripture reading: Genesis 1:1-31

Creative expression has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember—a gift handed down through the generations in my family.  I have been given many opportunities to recognize and use my creative nature and I believe it is my responsibility to encourage the creativity in others by offering opportunities to create.  As a homeschool mom, I incorporated creative activities into the curriculum whenever possible.  In fact, we even used art when studying chemistry.  My husband and I owned a scrapbooking/stamp store and I taught many classes in scrapbooking, card making, and other paper crafts.  My store closed after two years, and my children graduated from homeschool a few years after that.

I felt God telling me it was time to dig deeper and do more.  So I studied scripture, read some great books, attended workshops (online and in person),  took online classes, listened to podcasts, and led a Bible study related to helping Christians discover and use their creative natures. I’d like to share some of what I learned.

Scripture tells us that God created the heavens and the earth. He created the sun, the moon, and the stars.  He created the land and the seas.  Then he brought forth plants and animals too numerous to count.  Scripture then goes on to tell us that God created human beings, both male and female, in His image.  We were made in God’s image.  Isn’t that amazing?

What does all this mean for us?  Well, one of the things it means to me is that, if we were made in God’s image, then we were designed to be creative.  Many people think that creativity is only given to a select group of people—artists, musicians, writers, etc., but I don’t believe that.  Since God is the ultimate creative being and we were all made in his image, than certainly we are creative too—all of us. 

Scripture also tells us that God brought the birds and the animals to Adam and asked him to name them.  Why would God do that?  He could have named them Himself.  I think He wanted Adam to be a partner in creativity.  God encouraged Adam to use the creative nature he had been blessed with when he was formed.   Maybe God wanted us to know how much He values creativity. 

Do you think of yourself as creative?  I believe God does.  Maybe it will help if you broaden your understanding of creativity.  It can take many different forms.  Creativity is so much more than being artistic.  Yes, it can involve arts or crafts, but it doesn’t have to.  Creativity can show up in a variety of other ways, such as storytelling, cooking, decorating, gardening, sewing, or organizing.  Maybe you are a good communicator or problem solver.  Maybe you excel as a hostess, a nurturer, or a teacher.  Maybe you style people’s hair (not too creatively, I hope). Maybe you are a great salesperson.  All of these things require creative thought and action.  Are you a parent, a grandparent, or any kind of caregiver?  If so,  I’m sure you’ve had many occasions to call upon your creative nature.

If you can let go of the idea that creative = artistic, then maybe you will begin to see the ways you are creative everyday.  It’s an important part of who you are because I believe that God wants all of  us to live creatively, to serve creatively, and to worship creatively.  Over the next few weeks, I am going to post ideas about some ways we can become the creative people we were meant to be.  I hope you come back.