creativity 1 : the quality of being creative 2 : the ability to create
creative 1 : marked by the ability to create : given to creating 2 : having the quality of something created rather than imitated : IMAGINATIVE
create 1 : to bring into existence <God created the heaven and the earth -Genesis 1:1 (AV)> … 4 a : to produce through imaginative skill b : DESIGN
creator : one that creates, usu by bringing something new or original into being: esp, cap : GOD*
I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be created in the image of God, and I think a great deal of it has to do with creativity.
On my mind also is a question about it from the past that keeps coming back to me, repeating. So I repeat it to you, asking…
“What is the most creative thing you’ve ever done?”
I heard it many years ago from several women enthusiastically about to embark on a small group study of Genesis. It was the warm-up question for them to consider before their study began. I was unable to attend the study (though I must say my interest, like theirs, was definitely sparked by that question). So I never found out what their individual answers were, because they were supposed to keep them hush-hush until the first day’s discussion. But a definite reflexive answer popped up in my mind immediately.
Since most of you, my readers, are women, I wonder if the same answer pops up for any of you. (I would love to find out in the comments.)
So I think I’ll leave the rest this post unfinished for a day or two to give you a chance to think about your own answer, and I’ll pick up with my answer and a few of my thoughts about it.
Until then… Happy creative thinking!
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*Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition
Giving birth! 🙂
That was it, Lynn! And I imagine a lot of women would answer that way.
BTW, I read your post on #31 of Kel’s God-and-Art series, and it is wonderful! I want to put a link to it in a future post, and possibly quote a paragraph from it, if I can get your permission. Trememdous thoughts there…
I assumed you expect us to say giving birth, an awesome experience to be sure… but to me … I didn’t create my children…God chose the timing of my ovulation, chose which sperm would fertilize the egg. I was merely the vessel. I do know we are created in the image of the Creator and I NEED to be creative, a maker. When I had 6 children 9 and under, I found myself desperate for creative time, and my girls sported corn rows or french braids or pony tails. From cooking to decorating, painting, sewing, spinning, weaving, collage…all in imitation of the Master, my most creative thing is nothing compared to being a vessel, a clay pot made and making by the hand of the Potter, reveling in the overflow of HIS creation.
Oh, my, Laurie! You almost wrote my next post—only much more succinctly! Beautifully put! Especially your closing statement: “…my most creative thing is nothing compared to being a vessel, a clay pot made and making by the hand of the Potter, reveling in the overflow of HIS creation.” This is so rich and true. And the “irony” of it is that the more we allow ourselves just to *be* the vessel, “made and making” (love that phrase!) by and through Him, the more amazing and God-honoring the resulting “creations” or fruits!
Just now reading this, Sylvie. You can’t imagine my surprise to read your lovely essay today!!! And to think that God has blessed women to be vessels of His most ultimate form of creativity on earth. It’s staggering, really. loved your beautiful essay. Do you have one child? A boy, a girl? I had to read quickly b/c I am leaving, so forgive me if you said.
And of course, I’d be honored for you to quote. It’s one of the hardest things I ever wrote somehow–just would. not. flow. So if God can use it, I thank Him and thank Kel for the “assignment”!
Love
Lynni
God blessed me with one birth, Lynni, a boy, now grown man with an amazing child, little girl, of his own. And I consider him a near-miracle answer to prayer, not too likely to have come into existence otherwise. You have one child also, isn’t that correct–a daughter? I would have liked to have had more, but that was not to be, and, as in so many other kinds of cases, the dearth of numbers just seems to magnify the sole experiences. Thank you for your very encouraging comments, and quote permission. Blessings to you!