Our group drew in closely. We knew that chapters one would reach down and touch a deep place in our souls.
 
We were right.
 
The deeper we dug, the more treasures we found.  I hope you enjoy pondering and commenting on them as well as my questions to you.
 
"The fear of not being 'good enough' can keep us from using our talents and gifts, especially if those gifts have lain dormant for a while. The problem with this kind of thinking, apart from the fact that it's self-defeating, is that it is based on assumptions that we have no right to make. To begin with, it is not our place to decide for ourseves whether we are 'good enough' to glorify God with our talent." (Page 39)
 
How does this phrase resonate with you? 
 
Elsheirmer's next words resulted in nods of agreement. "Comparing ourselves to others is pointless because we don't know how God intends to use us once we let him have his way with us. Do we really think God would give us a talent and then provide no venue for it?" (Page 40)
 
Insecurity is no stranger to the creative person. It seemed to be with us just then, creeping around the coffeeshop where we had gathred as if to distract and taunt us. As we read on, however, we uncovered truth to counteract the scars from our past and apprehension about the future. We began to wake up to the deceit that shackled us. Then our definition of successful was changed in a moment:
"Being successful is syonymous with doing God's will." I loved that. Simple and liberating.
What does it mean to you?
 
She quotes Oswald Chambers, who saw it this way: "When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to 'arise from the dead' and do the impossible." (Page 47) Or in the words of another Master of words, "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:23 NIV)
 

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
 
 

Sometimes this artistic life can feel like a race. How's your stride? Is the creative person in you exhausted, weighed down or frustrated?
 
This is the first discussion on The Creative Call, by Janice Elsheimer, a captivating and motivating book on how to validate and rekindle your creative gifts. Feel free to stay and comment even if you aren't able to go through the book.
 
Perhaps you are a "closet creative" who thinks that what you produce has no value to others. Are you just discovering an artistic passion? Could it be you are burning out on one medium or method?
 
On page two, she quotes Luke 12:48 and writes that when we as creatives know that when we aren't bringing our gifts to life, we know something is missing and sense that we are not tackling our part in the process. On page three she compares the bottled-up feeling we experience when we don't exercise our gifts to the repressed energy of an athlete who stops training suddenly. This brings to mind Paul's admonition to "run the race" of the faith, though this time I looked at his analogy through an artistic lens.
 
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (New International Version)
 
^"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
 

Also take a look at Hebrews 11: 1-3 (New International Version), which also speaks to the practice and perfection of our craft:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

 
I'd like to hear how this applies to your artistic life. What hinders you? What causes you to loose heart? Who or what helps along the way? I know if put off for too long, my artistic impulse overwhelms me and can't be contained, just as Job described in chapter 32, verses 18-20 (page three). Or I can become depressed if that part of my life is neglected or stifled.
 

 
Mrs. Elsheimer suggests starting a day book in which to do all the exercises and in which to let your creativity flow freely. For a former journaler and compulsive doodler, it will be interesting to begin with those and see how they progress. The day book, for many of us, will be the first step to reclaim personal creativity and the joy that it brings.
 
The great thing about this race is that you go at your own pace, you are not alone and your Heavenly Coach is cheering you on. The finish line is determined by your own progress and satisfaction. Ready? Let's begin and see where the path leads for each of us, together.
 
And we're off...
 
 
 

Need a fresh start or rebirth of creativity in your artistic life? Want to explore creativity in the context of faith? Join us as we go through books on the subject, share works in progress and support each other through discussion as well as prayer. We are presently going through The Creative Call by Janice Elsheimer.
 
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=81383&item_code=WW&netp_id=255379&event=ESRCN&view=covers
 
If you live in the Denver area and want to join our in-person meeting on the second Wednesday evening of the month from 6:30 until 8:30 pm, please get in touch using the contact form. The first half of our meeting will be to get to know each other a bit and share which exercises in the book were the most meaningful to us. The second half will be to share works in progress, ask for feedback if desired and we will finish with prayer requests and praises.
 
Discussions here will cover the chapters after each meeting as follows: October 14th (chapters three and four), November 11th (chapters five and six), December 9th (chapters seven and eight, wrap-up). Retreats will be on your own. Feel free to share about them here.
 
I hope you find this book and time together fun, encouraging and creatively enjoyable. Please let me know if you have any questions. I can't wait to get to know you.