Embrace Your Inner Artist. And Love Him/Her.

Tolkien believed that, as creations made in the image of God, the Creator, we are sub-creators. He believed it is our responsibility to be good stewards of our creativity whether it's finger painting or creating the kingdoms of Middle Earth (and an entire language for elves...) The link below to Jon Acuff's blog offers a friendly reminder that God loves artists. It's easy to fall into the trap of "God would never use me for that" but we are one body with many parts--and what if that is your part? It's a good read and a reminder for people with perfectionist tendencies (cough, cough--me) to relax. The points made convicted me because I've hit a place where I've stopped creating. Areas where God has granted me talent are not being cultivated; they're mostly being ignored. I can't give a good reason. Maybe I'm scared that nobody will like it. A lot of it is probably because I'm a perfectionist and if it isn't perfect than it's not worth sharing. I halt creation because it isn't perfect rather than move on and embrace it, flaws and all. 

Like the parable of the talents (Matthew 15:14-30), God has given each of us something to use. In the parable, three servants were given money. Two invested their shares and came back with a profit; one servant hid his share and presented the same amount to his master upon the man's return. I love The Message's interpretation of the exchange:

"(v.26) The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that!'...(v.30) 'get rid of this play-it-safe who won't go out on a limb..." 

Ouch. 

"It's criminal to live cautiously like that..."

That phrase burns me. I like the idea of taking risks, and sometimes I do, but I play it safe a lot. Especially with my creativity. My creative work is the one area I am terrified to take risks in. I'll go skydiving. I'll try CrossFit. I'll even go vegan. But ask me to be creative and put it all out there and I break out in a cold sweat. Because what if it's not perfect? [Newsflash to self: nothing is perfect this side of heaven.] By living cautiously, listening to my creative insecurities that tell me to sit down and shut up, I am wasting something God gave me to invest. And as Jon Acuff points out, I am essentially ignoring or refusing to help someone who could benefit from my journey.

[As a writer, as an artist, thank you, Jon Acuff. I'm so grateful you are a) hilarious b) serious.]

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) states: "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Masterpiece. The NLT translation even uses art lingo! We are masterpieces, even with our flaws. God created us with a plan and purpose in mind. Are we willing to use our talents? Our skills? Are we willing to take part and do the good things God planned for us long ago? Yes. It's big. It's usually scary too. Stand up and stop listening to insecurities. They are big, fat liars. To borrow from Mark Batterson, "playing it safe is risky." Stop living cautiously--that's just existing. We were created to do more than just exist. 

We were created to live. To love. To create.