What is the quality of a man? I’ve been pondering on some of the characteristics lately inspired by a certain someone I’ve been looking at recently … yet to be revealed. Recently I looked at the issue of consistency and I want to explore another aspect that came across in linking the findings from the individual with wider Christian issues.
Creativity: This word is often reserved for artistic types, which is a shame, because appreciating the word in its different expressions would allow us to see that the bloke on the factory floor doing the same packing job as he’s been doing for 20 years is just as likely to be be creative and activate that creativity in his working life as the bloke who writes a song or paints his portrait. In fact, the latter blokes could be more routine-driven and mechanic in operation lacking in creative drive than the chap who ensures the boxes are wrapped properly so that the cargo is set right to go to the shops.
So what’s it all about here? Well first of all there’s no pressure about originality. Under the maxim that there is nothing new under the sun, then most of what we see is mostly about presentation rather than true fresh innovation. So as I look at creativity it’s going back to the source, going back to the creator and noting some of the creator’s habits. Like diversity, like variety, like consistency, like things complimenting each other, like planning and spacing things out. That’s what it is to be creative and every day, every week, every month, every quarter, every year, every season of life can be enriched by following these principles.
That can be a bit unsettling to some because it involves that strange thing in the midst of our consistency. In as much as we’re rock-steady, reliable and faithful, that is in the light of ever-changing circumstances that we’re ever alert to and ready to change where necessary. Consistency, dependency and reliability is not the same as flogging a dead horse because that’s all you’ve ever done. As the next point will further explore it is as much about relationship as anything.
So as to invest life with the colour and diversity that is blatantly obvious in nature and creation, the creative element is about seeing what new thing God would have you do in the new day to come away from it with a greater appreciation of what it is to be fruitful and productive in the exciting new circumstances. It is a lie to believe that every day is the same. Groundhog Day is a great story and an alright film and never likely to happen in real life.
So the desire to try and make that happen through drudgery and a view that life is the same and doesn’t change is actually some effort on our part ot miss out on what god is hinting at. Even as you get older and change, so there’s new things to engage with whether in the working world, or social interactions. Creativity sparks your imagination to see how you can relate to the new and not bring about the old where it blatantly doesn’t fulfil the requirements.
That’s why people who are on minimum wage, or in ‘poor’ situations can enjoy contentment far better than the rich and famous, because they realise the power of the creative working on the best of yesterday to enrich their today. This then sets up things to agree with the Psalmist that indeed this is God’s day and you might as well be glad and rejoice in it.
That is to say contentment is to be found in connecting with the Creator to open your eyes to things you would not otherwise have seen. That’s about the inner perspective shaping the outer experience, rather than the other way around.
There is more to say on further qualities of a man, more on that very soon.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 