Creativity

Patrick Lencioni, business consultant and Christian leader, wrote in his April Point of View email about the tension between discipline and creativity. Discipline without Spontaneity yields a dry, predictable, passionless existence. The contrary leads to a roller coaster of fun and tragedy. Either way, true creativity seems to take a back seat when we orbit too close to either pole.

 

God tells us right off the bat in Genesis that he creates. Fun stuff. Wild stuff. Cosmic stuff. Creativity is at the heart of who we are as made in the image of God. We all share in God's creativity to the extent we are true to our relationship with God, ourselves and others. The statement (often drilled into us at an early age) is that we are not creative or not PROPERLY creative. This is simple not true (unbiblical.)

 

I think the trick is mastering the spontaneity-discipline (grace-mercy?) tension. This means letting go of the nature pole we cling to (in place of God) and venture a little in the other direction.  Jesus demonstrates this when he says that none of the law is changed but how we view it and interpret it does. The Resurrection is pretty creative stuff. So is "lay down your life to gain it."

 

How's your creativity? Which pole are you more apt to cling to instead of clinging to God? What kind of nudge do you need to venture towards the other pole?