THE POWER OF CREATIVITY

Introduction:

Creativity has the power to change our lives if we have the boldness to follow our heart and create.

Connecting through Creativity:

“Life’s most significant turnings arise not so much from conscious awareness of obvious destinies as from unconscious streams of necessity to which we are irrepressibly drawn. Painting, like poetry, song, or dance, is vocation—a “calling forth,” a “summoning’—and in that sense a “birthing’ of something deep from within, tied to a transcending future with primal roots in a grounding past.” Bone Dead, and Rising: Vincent van Gogh and the Self before God.

Spirituality and the Healing Arts:

I was inspired by this quote after reading it on a new blog called “Life Turnings: Spirituality and the Healing Arts.” This is a subject that is very close to my heart. I have credentials in Art and Music Therapy, but I know there is a much deeper and vaster spiritual aspect to creativity that cannot be taught in traditional music and art therapy degree programs. I believe the Holy Spirit can lead us to great discoveries and treasures through our creative talents and desires. I found music and art therapy college courses to be dry, flat, and clinical. I encourage people to experiment in using their creativity in finding the rich places within themselves which can lead to healing, self-revelation, and ultimately the discovery of one’s purpose.

Art and music can communicate the unspeakable. One can look at a painting of Van Gogh’s Starry Night and be completely taken up into the “starry sky” of his creation. There is a depth that was conveyed through the medium of paint that is transferred from the artist’s heart to the one who is viewing their creation. This happens with music, dance, photography, ceramics, sculpture, and anything creative. Both the creator/artist and the receiver are transformed and touched in ways that sometimes cannot be put into words.

The Bible states, “As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor] (I peter 4:10).”

God’s nature is creativity. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1, NIV).” He created us after His likeness. “So God created mankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27, NIV).” If we are like God, then we naturally will want to create and find great satisfaction in the process of creating. This process of creating is powerful, healing, transforming, and full of excitement and wonder. I find that when I create something, whether it is writing a song, painting a picture, or writing this blog, I am more deeply connected to God and who God created me to be. More ideas flow, my self-esteem soars, my energy increases, and all my small worries and concerns disappear. I sense a culmination of all that God is doing in my life, pieces of knowledge, inspiration, wisdom, experience, coming together like a beautiful sunset as I write, create, compose, sing, or play an instrument.

I encourage all who have any desire within their hearts to act on some creative idea- to begin. Do not wait another moment. Once the creative process begins, a divine order is put into place, and all other details begin to line up. Hearts can heal, possibilities can be explored, creative gifts can be made and used to mend relationships, and lives will be transformed. I believe God is waiting for us to stir up those gifts He has put inside of us, and He will use them to increase and bless our lives and the lives of others. He gains pleasure when we take what He has given us and use it to inspire and bless others. Just like Van Gogh’s painting, Starry Night will continue to stir creativity and wonder, deep stirrings of spiritual depth on the inside of us and all who stumble upon it for many years to come, we can paint, compose, creative and express dreams and visions that can touch and heal hearts in unsearchable and mysterious ways.

“Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together. I, the Lord, have created it (Isaiah 45:8).”