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THE TAPESTRY OF LIFE
“WHERE THE SPIRIT DOES NOT WORK WITH THE HAND THERE IS NO ART.” Leonardo Da Vinci From early child hood there has been two major influences on my life, a spiritual search for the meaning not only for my life but society as a whole and beauty in all its forms, but especially creativity.
Had I lived in the middle ages I would have probably joined a monastery and found myself painting icons of the passion of Christ or copying and illuminating sacred manuscripts, separated from the real world with all it needs. I would have been contented and fulfilled in such a life, but such a life separates one from humanity. Fortunately that is a world long gone.
For many years I could not see how the two, spirituality and creativity, could work together. The difficulty I found is that the opulence of art and the needs of humanity were at the either end of the spectrum and I was torn between the two, even feeling guilty in having been given a talent that did not help society.
However the very first sentence in the bible says “ In the beginning God created” The first chapter is very reminiscent of an artist, little by little creating a piece of art.
In my youth when I would go out into the countryside and set up my easel I would start by painting the sky in first, then when I had stepped back and decided it was how I wanted it, I would begin painting in the mountains, then the hills then the trees and so it went on. God said at the end of chapter one “I stepped back and liked what I had created”. Things of the spirit are Gods pallet, they can’t be seen, they are faith, it is not till faith is used, can it be seen. God created the earth from what could not be seen, He created it from faith.
It is not difficult to marry creativity and spirituality, for faith is the foundation of them both. From the writer of Hebrews, speaking of God.
HEBREWS 11.3 IT IS BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WHOLE WORLD WAS MADE BY GOD’S COMMAND, SO WHAT WE SEE WAS MADE BY SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE SEEN.
If we look at Heb 11 as a basis to form a definition for creativity we might say: “Creativity is making tangible that which was unseen, as in a vision an idea”.
For all artists creativity starts in the mind, a simple tune, a vision of the dance, a form, a texture. This begins a process, an internal dialog that leads to a tangible representation of that initial thought, a sence, a feeling, or idea, that it self might have been inspired by some thing or some one.
Michelangelo could see a statue hidden in a raw block of stone, it was his talent as a sculptor that brought it out, that we might see what he saw. “I SAW THE ANGEL IN THE MARBLE AND CARVED UNTIL I SET HIM FREE.”
We recognize artists, musicians, dancers, writers, poets, as creative people, but what about people outside that circle. It is my belief that with out exception that all people are creative or have the potential to be creative.
Our creativity is usually closely related to our passion, as are our spiritual gifts. If our passion is numeric we will see the potential of numbers, that others will not see. If it is healing it will be medicine. Gods passion is for people, a passion that we all posses for some if not all. But are we creative with our passion?
Are we able to see a vision for our family, friend, community, the youth of our nation. Creativity is seeing their potential and encouraging it to the surface that all might see it. Are we passing daily, columns of marble with angels entrapped inside. As conventional artists we use tools to create: paint brushes, hammers, clay, needle and thread etc
We all have a pallet of colours within us, of light vibrant colours and of dull murky colours, we can choose from either side to create with. The colours of ;vision, grace, perseverance, forgiveness, thanks giving Or the colours of ; fear, hurts, failures, jealousy, prejudices. Creativity begins with ability to see what might be, what could be, then the desire, enthusiasm and perseverance to bring it to fruition, to the surface that all might see it. How do we see the youth of our nation.
Was the angel that Michelangelo saw, hidden from him, or was it hidden for him. So often we do not see the value of others, their glory is hidden from us, or is it hidden for us that by the creativity of faith we might see that which was unseen become visible for all to see.
Today we live in a world that likes things instant, this includes both church and art. We tend to take an over view of both, looking only at the surface and not at the journey. God has a great passion for humanity, and shows a creativity that did not stop with the creation of the earth but a work that is active in us all.
God believes in evolution, it is His desire that we evolve from being self creative to creating the potential in others, this may not be an instant thing but it should be our desire, focus, inspiration, motivation.
There are many people in our world today who need help,help with relationships, finances,many things that we often feel unable, unqualified to help with. Yet one of the best things that you and I can do, will cost us nothing, we dont need a degree, it is to simply invest into lives, to encourage strength, worth, hope and value.
Ask God today,to help you see angels in marble and give you the ability with his help to free them .
God Bless
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