Welcome back, creatives!
 
The first chapter, Beginning, really got us off to a great start. I loved that, according to Elsheimer, we are all created with our own artistic language (page 9) and that, many of us who want to discover or use our gifts more completely feel that if we don't we may be leaving something important undone (page 11). One statement which really stood out for me on page 15 is the one that speaks to how, when we don't acknowledge that our gifts are a part of His purpose for us, we put our inventive, playful and imaginative selves on hold to focus only on the must-do's of life. That is especially true if you have young children or a job aside from your creative interest.
 
 
I loved the quote right after that.
"In order to (create), you must face your inner critics, steal their power. Begin by trying to identify them."- Georgia Heard
Who are your inner critics? I am determined to not let mine steal one more ounce of self-esteem or time from my creative life. For example, the inner Super Woman in me says, "You don't have time to write today, the house needs cleaning." Now I figure the dust bunnies will have one more day to themselves. If no one replies to a post I write, it is tempting to listen to my inner critic say, "Well, it must not be very relevant or interesting." The truth is that I write as the Lord leads, paint as He directs and generally create under His guiding hand. The inner critic is often my soul's enemy whispering negative things in my ear to cause me to stumble in my creative worship unto the Lord. Slowly, I am becoming aware of things I and he say to myself which can cause me to veer off into the ditch of self-doubt.
 
 
Chapter Two, Listening, made me long for a more disciplined time of reflection and day booking. It seems that no matter how early I get to bed, I never quite make it to my day book early in the morning. That is a goal I have: to combine my Bible reading devotions with my day book time. To be led of the Holy Spirit early in the morning like she writes on page 18 would just be amazing just as the sun is coming up. She also writes that we can let God speak to us through our writing. A type of Theo-Therapy through craft. Love it.
 
One phrase she wrote on back on page 27 will stay with me forever:
 
"Write as though your creative life depends on it. It does." I would add that our spiritual lives depend on it to a degree as well since they are so intertwined.
 
In essence, anytime we take the time to invest in our craft, it is crucial to our creative life. We may improve one tiny thing, but we did that. We may create something that touches someone's heart forever. And time worshipping the Lord with our creativity is always an eternal use of our resources.
 
This also struck me from page 31: "The things we put off are often the things that are the most imporant part of who we are as individuals."
On page 33, Elsheimer quotes Madeleine L'Egle:
"The important thing is that creation is God's, and that we are part of it, and being part of creation is for us to be co-creators with (him) in the continuing joy of new creation."
 
I hope you are enjoying the book and look forward to reading your thoughts on anything that made an impact on you or helped you get started creatively.
Until next time.
Selah