Creation. Creative. Create.

I cannot even tell you the last time I read a non-fiction book. Like actually sat down, read more than a page – because it actually held my interest and wasn’t going to set me into the rhythms of dreamland, as I dozily read a few lines lost in the idea that I am in fact, very tired and need to sleep. And who are all these characters? Just sitting here, ten chapters into a nonsense book made me realise how much I have missed doing this. I’ve lost sight of the things that once brought me joy.

There are seasons in our lives, whether they are thrust on us or naturally evolve, where we do what we need to, to survive. Our interests cater to those around us, all the while we loose a little of who we are on some level, or somehow amongst every one else’s needs and wants we forget who we once were.

I feel like God is ever calling us to return to who He has created us to be, and who He sees in Heaven. But life happens and we get lost along the way. Parts of us shed, we loose sight of the bigger picture. We face new challenges. But where does playing fit into our life picture?  Play… well, who gets to play when you’re adulting?

In ministry we have this unique insight into the people around us: the ones who we serve alongside and the ones we serve. Some never grow up, and a tiny part of us hidden in our frustration are actually envious of their freedom. Some are so caught up in being grown up there is no hope for bringing the inner child that Jesus so requires of us. I relate to this internal tension, where I want so badly to play and not be responsible, yet am acutely aware of our reality in its entirety.

There’s an undercurrent I don’t like in my life too. The reigns of reality yank hard on our schedules as we bustle, there’s no room for playing and again the landmarks pitch a flag, our creative tank is running low… We simply can’t be everything to everyone with everything we’ve got, every. single. time. We give out a lot in creative teams – we have to come up with ideas to creatively connect God to the individual. But honey, you can’t take them where you haven’t gone. You need some inspiration!  If you’re running low, you need to feed your creative heart. I didn’t realise until I was reading my fluffy novel my creativity was starving. Screaming out, it hadn’t been fed on beauty or perspective or joy in a while.

For us to be creative we need to be around creative. And when we are, the tap gushes forth into our being and we are truly filled. That’s what I was missing. My mind whilst it was learning to zen and find peace, I had forgotten the importance of filling myself again with the things that once bought me joy. I’m craving more than I realised. I have an insatiable appetite for the creative world we live in.

Sweet one, are you finding yourself similarly in a creative rutt? Go fill your soul with the creative world around you: put on some classical music, go to a museum, read a novel, visit an art gallery, buy tickets to a comedy night, make space for a getaway and simply sit. Feed your creativity, for when we forget to, we let it hunger until it withers – and we can’t make heaven come to earth through the gifts He has entrusted us with from a place of emptiness.

until next time… xox