Look at the morning paper. What are the main headlines? Possibly hurricanes demanding families to evacuate their home. Painful memorials of how people have been unjustly treated in one way or another. Stories depicting the horrible outcome of what started out as a peaceful rally exposing wrongful actions toward a group of people.
Pain upon
Anger upon
Death upon
……………………………AGONY.
Is that all there is in our
Real Life?
Suddenly the reality of those pain-filled words started jumping all around me crying out to make themselves heard. “I am real”!!!
Pain exists.
- Cancer with all of it’s excruciating effects.
- Raising children with no help.
- Losing a loved one.
- Addictive choices becoming a lifestyle and those choices affecting the web and flow of a families very breath.
- The list of the world’s chaos goes on even further.
Should I continue? What would be the point? If you are not fighting a medical battle, you are probably in the middle of an emotional one. If you are not in an emotional upheaval, then a spiritual turmoil might be clamoring inside.
THE RESPONSE?
A creator has to create. A writer HAS to write. Walking through a bookstore, will bring many attempts to answer the question to life. The form will vary. Either by straight-forward nonfiction or a slightly more subtle way as in poetry and fiction. It is in the DNA of a writer to express an answer to the world’s chaotic pandemonium.
I believe as Christian creatives, poets, writers, we are called to tackle those same real themes. Our participation in this battle with the creative arts we have been given will write through a different lens. It is necessary to join in the dance of God’s heart and co-labor with Him to bring out truth and beauty.
HOW?
All true artisans are willing to cry and rejoice in the reality of the world.
A writer who has taken up the pen as a sword has implements at her disposal in the spiritual world. As she constructs a well developed story, she can take her reader to the depths of reality and freedom beyond what mere details can achieve. The creative sees the data of pain. The story no matter how it is composed( fiction/ poetry/essay) will walk with the reader in and through the pain. The reader will not feel alone. Well chosen words will cause the reader to identify with truth and know she is identified with.
As a Christian, I know the world will have tribulation. John 14:33
I also know Who the Victor is. We need creative writers who are bold with their gifts of creativity to feel The heart of God and show the victory through ways that will touch a soul.
Why do you create?
.
As you read this post, seriously look into your calling. As creators we have a high calling. Slow down to sit at God’s feet. Put your ear to HIS HEART. Will you at times be brave enough to weep as Jeremiah of the Old Testament? Before it comes time to put pen to paper, pause and wait for His Word.
In the depth and fullness of what you receive, be bold and obedient to flow the beauty God has shared with you.
I will finish with a quote from Luci Shaw
It is my wild hope that perhaps creative Christians, by means of their “baptized imaginations” may be able to help integrate the universe by widening and sharpening their focus, by seeing the whole picture as if through God’s eyes, by observing humankind and the environment and saying, “Yes, I see. This like that . There is meaning in it”.1
Where is God taking you on your adventure in creating? Feel free to share your thoughts. We are on this journey to worship together.
BE
To
Worship
As
Were
Created!
1Luci Shaw BREATH FOR THE BONES Art, Imagination , and Spirit: Reflection on Creativity and Faith ©2007 P.68.