John 5:8 “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’”
Art? It was my freshman year of college and my schedule included an Art Class. This did not make me a happy camper. The first night of class the instructor had each of us draw whatever came to mind. I guess he wanted to assess our level of competency. As my fellow students crafted beautifully shaded apples and intricate portraits, all I could think of was a house, tree and sun! Not quite college-level drawing. But such was my concept of “art” and along with it “creativity.”
My thoughts on creativity have expanded since that time. I now realize that because we are made in the image of our Creator we all have a measure of creativity that reflects him whenever we put it to use. It may not be expressed in lines and shapes and colors, but appears in the way we combine words…or musical notes…or spices…or flowers…. In how we plan a party or design a room.
One writer has made the observation that we are at our best when we are creating. Like the presence of a breeze on a stagnant day, creativity invigorates us. It connects us to our purpose. It enables us to give. To inspire. To invite others into a new perspective.
I want to encourage you not to overlook this aspect of your life. God has given you innumerable ways in which you can express creativity. But it will never be realized if you think because you can’t paint like Picasso or sing like Whitney Houston that your creative stirrings are worthless. If you never act on the gifts you have been given (no matter how “small” they seem) you most likely will lose them.
When Jesus told the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda to pick up his mat and walk, he was calling him to leave behind thirty-eight years of paralysis. Jesus even asked the man if he wanted to be made well (verse 6). There were some internal obstacles that had to be overcome before he could be healed. I think the same is true for many of us in our approach to creativity. Maybe we need to tear down some roadblocks of laziness, complacency or fear of failure that lull us into the sleep of immobility.
So recognize the call of your Creator. Don’t wait any longer. Pick up your mat…or pen…or guitar…or spatula…or hammer. Walk into a world that needs what you have and give it. Be assured that your creativity brings both glory and pleasure to God.