Creative Chaos
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Chaos is messy! I cannot begin writing a devotion if there is clutter and unfiled papers on my writing desk. No, I’m not a neat freak but I am a creature of habit—wanting things in the right places where I can find them in the future.
We are all uniquely different. While I desire order, some use their desk as the filing system and can tell you which stack and how far down the needed papers lay in the pile.
Creative chaos requires a think tank mind. It offers ingenious ideas at warp speed. It’s always good to have a couple of these people in any organization because they don’t see roadblocks—just solutions. (However, they don’t necessarily do well on the same committee at the same time.)
We were all gifted with a measure of creativity. In the beginning stages, there is a sense of mental chaos when we ask: How do I get there from here?
As an artist, they see the masterpiece before the brush touches the pallet. To us, spatters of paint don’t look like anything but mess. But to them, they already see the finished picture. It’s a warm, woodland scene filled with spring wildflowers that part enough to show two new fawns in the thicket.
A seamstress can look at a bolt of material in the store and see the beautiful, stylish dress on her daughter. Truthfully, have you ever taken time to look in the sewing nook or box. It often looks much like the picture above with pieces of this and that to be saved for a future something.
Timing is everything to the creative mind! What is the need, vision, purpose, and desired outcome? Rushing causes internal chaos. Often, we are asked to hurry up and wait and that’s a real deal breaker for inspiration.
Fortunately, our Heavenly Father is the essence of creativity. Since the beginning of time, mankind has caused the chaos—not Him. But He still loves us and kindles our imaginations that bring forth expressions of His beauty,
After all, we were made in His image.
Gracious Lord, thank You for all of creation. Please help us to use the skills that You gave us for Your glory. Teach us not to get bogged down with details but to create from our hearts. AMEN.