hearing vs. doing
Walking in the fullness of the creativity God gave you requires, um, WALKING.
Not just hearing people say, “You’re really creative.”
Not just telling yourself, “I’m a creative.”
Actually. Being. Creative.
If you’re anything like me, there are a lot of things that can get in the way. Like busyness. Or distractions. Or FEAR…
That last one is a doozy, though, isn’t it?
What if someone doesn’t like what I create?
What if it takes too long to get good at this?
What if using my voice results in some sort of pain or discomfort?
The truth is that the creative life is inherently risky, AND…
If we want to be confident as creatives, we must combat the paralysis of risk-avoidance by regularly practicing the creative expression(s) God has given us.
This is how we remember who we are. And what we’re here to do.
James 1:22-25 talks about the necessity of being not just “hearers,” but “doers” of The Word, “lest you be deceived.” The passage literally refers to someone looking at themselves in a mirror only to immediately forget what they look like upon walking away.
How often have you forgotten the fullness of how God made you? Or questioned whether you can ever be as good at something as you once were before life got messy?
The passage goes on to say that the one who is “no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts” will be blessed in all his (or her!) doing (v. 25, emphasis mine). While this passage is specifically referring to honoring God’s law, the principle remains the same: doing keeps us from forgetting what is TRUE.
This is good news. And it comes with a promise worth stretching for.
Now go get your (singing / dancing / painting / writing / etc.) groove on! And as always, let me know what you discover when you do.
For TRUTH…
- cr
