CREATIVE BY NATURE

PRACTICE: What surprises have you learned about yourself recently?

Decorating for Christmas 2019 was chaotic, stressful, tedious and my timing was completely off. I generally try to complete one major project at a time until I get the festive atmosphere that I desire. I didn’t have that luxury this time. Wisdom prevailed and I finally let some things go completely. I paid to have one task completed, something I have never even considered before. But the release of some tasks, allowed me the freedom to concentrate on others.

My immediate family will often ask me before the process of decorating starts, “Are you going to do the ____ like you did last year? I loved that look.” My reply is always, “Just wait and see.” Experience has taught me that my creative juices do not flow naturally when I try to reproduce something, and I get frustrated. I am at my best when I look at a task as a blank canvas.

When I started project Christmas 2019, my life was in an upheaval...I had too many social obligations, the work pace accelerated, and a close family member died necessitating travel…the space to be decorated was an outward manifestation of the inner chaos. It was a mess - had you walked into my house, you would been appalled. Guess what? I found peace in the mess. The piles of decorations were tools to be used to transform the mantle, tree or dining room table into a work of art. My mind looked at them and visualized the possibilities. My hands translated the vision into reality. My mind and body were working in tandem. My thought process was clear and focused. Distractions ceased. Interruptions were discouraged. Time didn’t exist. The messiness of my daily life was put to the side. I was at peace. I think intuitively I have known for a long that I am in my most peaceful state when I am being creative. This is the first time that I have ever been able to articulate it…that’s growth for me.

Some of you are probably saying, “Good for you but I don’t have a creative bone in my body.” That’s okay. We all have places or things to which we naturally gravitate that bring us to a state where mind and body are present with each other. Some find it in organizing their closet or sock drawer. Some find it in physical exercise. Others find it in working with children. My son is most peaceful when cooking. My girlfriend finds it in restoring furniture. Others find their sweet spot in comforting and encouraging others. I found the words to acknowledge and embrace mine in the middle of my messy December and decorating for Christmas. I want more of this for my life…peace in the middle of the storm.

Isaiah 41:10

PONDER THIS THOUGHT—What clears my head when chaos is all around me?