Rediscovering the Joy of Writing

So I know this blog has a techy fun and sometimes (ok all the time) nerdy theme. But all of that comes from and sits inside a life of faith. My love for life and my joy in life comes from my new life in Jesus. I know that sometimes these posts will read differently from my other posts, but I hope they will also give food for thought, maybe even encourage you in your journey of faith. Anyway here we go…

I’ve always enjoyed creating and been fascinated by the concept of the arts and mastery but I’ve never really consdiered myself an artist or even anything close.

But this is one of many pursuits that I have found or rekindled after I found faith in Jesus. As I came to know God I came to see more and more, as John wrote at the beginning of his gospel, everything that was made was made through him and nothing that was mad e was not made thrpugh him. And if the whole purpose of piur loives, as posited by one of my favourite writers (John Mark Comer), is to know Jesus, to become like Him and to do things He did, then we should all be artists, craftsmen and creators.

This is echoed throughout the scriptures but is clearest at the very beginning, He created them as man and woman he made them in our own image. For me this clearly shows that we should reflect the character and actions of the one who created us, by ourselves being creative and participating in the creative works of our God.

All that to say, that we shouldn’t use the time and the lives we have been given to affect change in our world, but also to simply create for the joy and love of bringing things to life. I think we see this when God declres the words ‘and it was good’ over each of His creative acts in Genesis 1.

We aren’t to only create to be productive or to achieve some goal, but also to bring goodness into the world and to bring express our unique perspectives and interpretations of our God given selves into the world. I’m not saying we should all become artists and attempt to churn out a masterpiece on canvas. I mean to say, that even in our own small worlds unleashing our creative powers can have a real impact, maybe just on ourselves, or perhaps our familiars, communities or even whole swathe of society. I believe God can speak through us and through our actions. Creating a piece of art might speak more greatly of God’s goodness and love to some people far more effectively than even the most well crafted sermon. A person’s actions, could demonstrate and shine the compassion and generosity of God more brightly than. A person’s brilliant idea or invention shared with the word in an open and available way could improve or save the lives of multitudes and speak more clearly of God’s want to see everyone flourish and live life to the full.

By harnessing our powers of creativity for the help, enjoyment and pleasure of others we can join God in His redemptive and creative work that began at the foundation of time and continues through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So I encourage you pick up an instrument, a pen, a paintbrush, or a keyboard. Let yourself doodle, scribble and sketch. Make space for the spirit of Jesus to flow through you and out into the world. You never know how God may use your creative gifts to speak or act in the lives of others.

Take care, speak soon.