“Creativity is not about me. It is not about you. It is not us somehow acting like little gods, creating on our own in the same way God creates. Although he asks us to imitate him, we are not imitators of God in this dimension. The most we can hope for is to respond appropriately and creatively to who God is and what he means. Creativity is a response.” Michael Card, Scribbling in the Sand
Perhaps these words stood out to me the first time I read them years ago, but today they sparkled across my mind and into my heart like gems of dew on blades of wild grass. My spirit responded with a silent sigh of deep agreement, relief, and refreshment.
I’ve tried to read books by authors and listen to speakers who hint or claim that because we’re made by Him in His image, and we’re called to imitate Him, all human creativity is Creation as in equal to God’s.
In my weaker moments, I wanted them to be right because then everything I wrote or said would be good, as in perfect.
But I had to reject their false claims because . . .
I can’t speak asters into existence or give them a honey-like scent.
Nor can I wake up their petals and cause them to stretch out in beauty.
There’s no way I can give the Red Admiral Butterfly its design or the goldenrod its radiance.
It’s impossible for me to place the design on the bee fly’s body or its wings.
God alone can do these things in the micro-space in our wildflower gardens and the unimaginable mega-space of His Creation.
We cannot equate our attempts at creativity with the enormity of His power to Create.
But we can respond creatively to God. If Michael Card is right, and I think he is, that is one way we worship Him.
Until Next Time,
Joy
Beautiful photos of God’s amazing creativity:)
He is surely amazing! I love being in His creation so much!
Well said Joy. I agree.
Thank you!
I loved the blog and the pictures! did you take the pictures Joy? The bee one was so fascinating to me, as I studied it closely I realized that God was mixing patterns in outfits long before I started doing it. He used the same colors and the technique of a different scale to really keep it interesting and beautiful. The butterflies, flowers, sky-scapes, and sunsets all inspire color ideas for what we can do in our clothing, but this time you opened me up to new patterns. I’ll be looking even more closely now in the future… though maybe not quite that close to a bee ;0)
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Yes, I took these photos. By His grace, I saw them and was able to save these moments with His help! I was far enough away from the bee – a good zoom lens allows me to do that! Although I have held sleepy bees on purpose. 🙂 I think the way you see His design is so cool! And the way you see how He intends for You to use it in your work.
So much to ponder in these words, Joy! What a gift God has given us – the ability to see creation, even in our small mind!
You are so right, Mary Lou!