Structure OR Strain

Is it a painting from that trip to the beach? How about a stone from that hike with the kids? Maybe it's wearing that pair of shoes that seems to literally carry you boldly one step at a time?

What structures (symbols) in your life remind you to keep moving toward the goal? To keep becoming the person you want to be? To live your God-breathed purpose in your current context?

I don't know about you, but when I wing-it day after day, I find myself looking back and straining to see what good came of those days and hours. On the other hand, when I have a vision, schedule, goals and structures in place that encourage and challenge and remind me to press onward... sure time still moves fast, yeah, but it's full. It's built upon. I'm lifted up and motivated. It's refreshing in that deep Holy Spirit is at work in my gut sort of way when I'm face down in a ditch.

Maybe it's 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 on your dashboard. Or that gift trinket gift from your kid. What's you're structure? OR are you busy straining to see what just happened?

Art Fairs & Prowling Lions

The other day Brooke and I strolled around Hale Farm and Village sipping coffee and checking out the artists, artisans, creators, crafters, designers and all around creatives during the Made in Ohio arts and crafts fest. If you're a creative then you'll understand what I mean when I say that I felt inspired, affirmed and jealous.

You know what I mean.

Of course you do. You're a creative. You have something brewing (beyond the Highlander Grog coffee) and regardless of which stage you're in with your art (stalling your start, hobbyist, part-timer, independent or full-on full-time professional) it's nearly impossible to wind through 160 tents, booths and live-action smithies, without feeling that range of emotions. You want to be in the action. You have to!

The question is, which thought will consume you?

Will inspiration push you to create? Will affirmation propel you forward toward your next goal? Or will jealousy prowl around your heart, mind and soul like a roaring lion terrorizing your creative mission?

Two thoughts on my time at the market:

1. I need these experiences. They're like a tsunami of motivation toward my creative pursuits.

2. I'm encouraged and challenged by the sheer number of artisans willing to put their hand to the brush, chisel, wire-cutters and blowtorch, infuse their creation with their unique talent and boldly share it with the world around them.

So, what are you waiting for? Create what only you can create. We need it.

Bind & Loose the Paint

There's so much freedom to create, write and design the type of art we want to pursue. There really is.

I was reading about "binding and loosing," no, not leather straps and that sort, but about "forbidding & permitting." This is an old Jewish concept that engages the freedom teachers had/have to interpret the law. Jesus shifted this a bit, He gave that freedom to His disciples (unofficial teachers). He invited them to interpret the law (not change it) in order to freely live in grace and truth. Rebellious.

What about art?

Artists do the same thing. We take the rules inherent in writing a story and we press them to tell the story we want to tell. Or the song we want to write and sing and share. Or our movie script, maybe it's beyond the modern format. Or the way a guitar looks and feels and plays.

Short of creating a piano and calling it a drum or mixing a deep shade of blue and calling it orange, we have the freedom to bind and loose the rules of our medium in order create something new and inspiring and true.

What do you have yet to learn in your creative field? After all more we understand our craft, the more freely we're able to bind and loose with confidence and success.