One the principles that Julia Cameron expresses in The Artist's Way is the following:
"Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God."
I was meditating on that this morning, and I decided it's like when Michael gives me a Christmas gift. If I politely say thank you and then put it in a drawer and never use it, well, he will conclude fairly quickly that I didn't much like whatever it was and not give me the same item in the future.
If, on the other hand, I use it constantly and say how much I enjoy it, I'm communicating to him that he understands me so well and that he has added something of value to my life.
In the first case, Michael feels disappointment, and in the second case, he feels pleased . . . and our relationship benefits.
I'm guessing the dynamics are similar with God and his gift giving.
What do you think?
21 comments:
What do i think? That you are one smart cookie, as usual! That's a perfect analogy (though it did bring up some unmemorable birthday gifts that are stashed in the deep recesses of my closet)....I take my creativity for granted & just yesterday someone at coffee hour asked me why i was creative and i just looked at her blankly....but this quote helps me to realize that to use one's creativity is a thank you of sorts to the One who gave the gift.
I think you're right in the mark there. :)
I agree whole heartedly!
I'd never thought of it that way. Now I feel REALLY guilty for retiring from teaching.
What does this say about people like a friend of mine who gives something back when he doesn't like it?
Great analogy, Ruth. And a good way to keep thinking about God's gifts.
Well Ruth, Humanly I like what you wrote. spiritually I don't think God is pleased or displeased with us. I think it is up to us to take what He (or She) gave to us and use it for good. If we don't we waste it. But God keeps on giving...to everyone every day. I don't think God punishes us (we do that to ourselves) or rewards us. God just is. And we need to consider the lilies of the fields. I don't think they worry about whether or not God is pleased with them. They just ARE. But Humanly it is a great analogy and I am so glad you shared it because it reminds me that I need to share more of my creativity.
Back in high school a friend said something similar and it hit me wrong, but I realize that is because she was so proud of herself for the things that she'd done and didn't exactly credit God. But the way you are expressing it, I agree. Our relationship with God is so intimate, and the fact that He allows us to create anything is so amazing! I know another time you quoted Eric Liddle in saying he felt God's pleasure when he runs. There are some things we just know He means for us to do. (Also, if you think of talents as gifts and not money, we are told not to bury them). Ok, I've rambled on to disjointedly say what you eloquently said, so I'll just say I agree and shut up now! :)
One thought i had been shared, was when we eat a grapefruit, our way of saying thanks is to be 'sweet and juicy' like the grapefruit. We receive and we then reflect. I do not think all of us are creative, per se, when i see an artist's work, i trust that is their talent. I also see cre-ative ( cre-heart)farmers, environmentalists, etc..
Anyway, the faith i guess i process presently is when we are receiving, and then what is keeping me from receiving.. For being around a 'unique elder mother', how do i try take good heart/ presence, when i would rather just do anything. like rant, etc?
Thank you for your blog's good heart..cre-ating thoughts for all.
=-)
I think that's right, but sometimes, the talent that we think we have isn't the one we're meant to use. We can waste years trying to be good at the 'wrong' thing .. or maybe not. Maybe everything is just a step along the way and nothing is wasted.
I do think that if you have a talent we should use it, that we are meant to use it. But I also think that sometimes we need to think laterally and find the right way to use our talents, too. And sometimes that can be difficult.
Am I making any kind of sense?
Tracie, you weren't disjointed at all.
Jay, you did make sense. Finding the right outlet can be immensely difficult.
Hhmmm... you are making me want to re-take the Artist's Way class. I think it would be interesting to see where it goes more than a decade later.
Totally off-topic, but we watched The Lives of Others over the weekend and liked it very much. Thank you for the movie suggestion.
Excellent analogy, Ruth.
I heard an interesting quote last night; "Creativity is your prayer speaking to the whole world." It was from Rainn Wilson (he plays Dwight on The Office TV show.
He has an interesting website called www.soulpancake.com.
Enjoyed your analogy, it makes perfect sense!
Definitely! I wish Christians would talk about this gift more often and the importance of using it. Sometimes not using our natural creativity can lead to depression....there should be more focus on that connection, I think.
Your post has me thinking this evening. I believe that there are many God given gifts that we don't use well. Thanks for this post.
yes....except sometimes I think we can get hung up on using God's gifts in such a way that it becomes a law or an obligation rather than a delight, and that can contribute to our stuckness.
I know as a teenager I was terrified that I would be the guy in the parable of the talents that buried his talent and was judged.
how to get back to the gift mentality???
Great point, Ruth! Now I am thinking I need to pull that copy of The Artist's Way off my shelf and revisit it...
Pax,
Doxy
Wonderful example, Ruth. I guess I always knew that, but you explain it so clearly...I see that I have some more expressions of gratitude to give Him.
Sorry I haven't visited for awhile...My husband has been on the computer continually this past week, listening to hundreds of bands that he will be visiting at South by Southwest, the music event his company is sending him to tonight. He finished listening to everything at 4 a.m. this morning! Ugh!
Take care,
Elizabeth
You hit the nail on the head... as you so often do!
i'm thinking you're speaking truth here, ruth. there have been seasons of no use and misuse of gifts. so thankful that He loves me and delights in me nonetheless!
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