Release Your Creativity

By Judy Rushfeldt

About fifteen years ago I was rummaging through some old boxes stacked away in a forgotten closet when I discovered a stack of poems that I had written during my childhood. Shaking off the dust and cobwebs that clung to the thin yellowing paper, I began to read.

I discovered a long-forgotten world - one that sang with romance, adventure and mystery. It was a world of princesses, heroes and castles, where the princess was always rescued and the dragon always slain. Each flower had a name; children flew on magic carpets and a pot of gold glittered at the end of every rainbow.

I felt an aching sense of loss. A part of me was buried with these poems, neatly mummified and hidden away in closets of predictability and duty. When did I stop dreaming? At what point on the road to "maturity" did security become more important than adventure? How did the soldiers of mediocrity skulk into my heart to capture the free spirits of romance and adventure, locking them up as prisoners of war and slowly starving them until all that remained were skeletons?

For me, it was a time of reckoning. Something precious had been lost. Something intrinsic to my life purpose had been denied, repressed and stuffed into a box labelled "mediocrity".

That day, I prayed a simple prayer, "God, I know you have a bigger dream for me than I could ever dream for myself. Help me to discover that dream and give me the courage and faith to embrace it."

Destined to Create

My journey of re-igniting my inner dreamer began by reflecting on the creative attributes of God. After all, the Bible says that we are made in His "image and likeness."

My parents live in one of the most spectacular places in the world - the Columbia valley, nestled between the Rocky and Selkirk mountain ranges. I have my own name for this piece of paradise -- "The Valley of Dreams." Whenever I visit, my faith is renewed as I bask in nature's splendor.

I selected the "Valley of Dreams" as my classroom for lessons in divine creativity. I went for midnight strolls, entertained by the moon as she danced on snow-capped mountain peaks. I listened to the wind playing with the leaves, strumming a song of mystery and promise and new beginnings. I basked in the glory of a Rocky Mountain sunrise, celebrated by the chorus of a thousand robins, blue jays and meadowlarks.

The message resounded loud and clear. God IS creativity. And since God wants us to strive to cultivate Christ-like characteristics, I am called to reflect God's creative attributes.

What then, can we do to experience a greater release of divine creativity through our own lives? Insights are provided in the gospel of John, where Jesus Christ said, "I am the Vine; you are the branches. He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same will bring forth much fruit."

Divine creativity - like all of God's characteristics - grow in proportion to our "connectedness" to Him. If we want to be more creative, we must draw closer to God.

Destined for Purpose

Once my heart was entrenched in the truth that each of us is destined to express divine creativity, I began to question why. Is creativity an end in itself? Or is creativity a means to an end?

For we are God's own handiwork, (His workmanship)…that we might do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us…(Eph. 2:10).

This Bible verse reveals that God created each of us for a purpose. Creativity is one of the gifts God has given us to achieve that purpose. Until we discover our own unique purpose, we will be haunted by the question, "What am I to do with my life, and why?

In practical terms, what does a purposeful life look like? I like what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Everyone has the power for greatness - not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service."

Once I committed myself to the pursuit of understanding my purpose, my life resonated with fresh vision, creativity and joy. I began to discover unique ways that I could use my passions and skills to serve others.

God also has a dream for you - a dream that is much bigger than anything you could dream for yourself. You will discover that dream as you draw closer to God and commit yourself to developing and using your talents, gifts and resources to serve others.

Judy Rushfeldt

Judy Rushfeldt is an author, speaker, and online magazine publisher who has been writing for 25 years. Her passion is to inspire and equip women to reach their dreams. Her latest book, Making Your Dreams Your Destiny - a woman's guide to awakening your passions and fulfilling your purpose, is now available in quality bookstores. You may also order online with your credit card or by mail, fax or toll-free telephone by clicking here: MakingYourDreams.com

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