Adaptive Creativity
I always love the writers of the gospels and how they show
that Jesus was never stuck in a mold even when healing people. There were no abracadabra moments where magic words
were said and the miracle was conjured up by recipe or rote.
It was always a creative response to the person before him
and I believe the audience around them. What would it take to call forth faith
or life in the events as they unfolded at that particular time, in that
particular culture? Whether it was words in the sand, water for the soul, a dip
in a river or mud in the eye it was an unbelievably creative moment in that person’s
life where they had to choose to adapt to receive the miracle they desired.
As a counsellor especially with people with addictions or
long term depression I try and get them to use common sense and senses to bring
about change. What did their gut say moments before something negative
happened,? Can they take a different route home and focus on the ordinary or
extraordinary details around them in the landscape. Does a tortilla chips
crunch take their mind off the craving or a teaspoon of peanut butter slowly
savored bring about a small change? Does the fragrance of something bring peace
in the midst of crisis?
In our writing lives is it really any different? I don’t
believe in writers block, no matter how much it has been written about. I
believe people are tired, weary or exhausted in circumstances, or they have
stared at the same thing for too long – whether it be their pen, screen or
wall.
Calling on the beauty in life helps us adapt our creativity.
It shows us that a million snowflakes or trees are not the same – ever. There is always some new way to adapt to the
circumstances creatively change the stories that need to be told.
In the first photo a single rose is highlighted against the frozen minus forty stark Saskatchewan landscape. The photo can help me remember both the beauty of a surprise rose, a frosty day or my beloved Saskatchewan landscapes. It brings beauty to an ordinary day when I MAYBE was not keen on helping a neighbor boost their vehicle again in frigid temperatures.
So wise, Sheila! Yes, there is always a new way to see the 'old' when we really look to seek the beauty in all things.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful. Your advice is so practical and so wise... Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful that God continues to reach out to people with adaptive creativity. He reached out to me that way, and I'm asking Him to help me to reach out to others that way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this thoughtful and encouraging post. I appreciate you, Sheila.
Excellent post, Sheila. I've had to adapt a lot during my lifetime, mainly due to my poor eyesight. From using two weak magnifying glasses together so I could read to using a screen reader to hear what I type, Adaptation is what I've had to do.
ReplyDeleteI'm also addicted to trailing-edge technology. It's why I still use WordPerfect 5.1 on my DOS computer. I wrote my first 3 books using that program. I'm also a huge fan of magnet media such as cassettes and floppy disks.
Beautifully stated thoughts...thank you for making room for the misfits, rebels, or just plain curious. You are a very needed voice in this world. Keep Shining!
ReplyDeleteWow Sheila - there's a lot here - tugged on the heart... and well written! thanks for the reminders - to find the redemptive thread AND to share it with people who need it - really good.
ReplyDeleteInspiration is everywhere.....that makes total sense to me and is something I think I knew once but have since forgotten. Thanks for the much needed reminder. The pictures are incredibly powerful, Sheila. As always God’s wisdom shines through your abundantly compassionate heart.
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