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My path crossed with a long lost high school acquaintance a few months ago. We exchanged news about location, family, jobs…“Book publishing—that’s great!” He paused, raising his eyebrows inquisitively. “But I’m really surprised you’re not performing on stage somewhere. . . .”
His reaction stuck in my mind for several days. Sure, I acted in nearly every production put on by my high school and college theatre departments—musicals, full-length plays, one-acts—but did that really define who I am, or at least who I was? Did I miss the boat on my career calling?
But the more I thought about it, the more peace I found in his reaction. He saw a talent in me then that I’m still able to use as a source of inspiration and creativity. There’s nothing like stepping out of myself and into another character onstage. Call it cliché, but acting allows me to connect more deeply with humanity and what it means to be a child of God.
So what’s your favorite creative outlet? What activity helps you shed your inhibitions and learn more about yourself? If you’re able, make time to get the creative juices flowing this week. You may just find a refreshed point of view in your day-to-day creativity.
Annie
4 comments:
Acting, huh? There are so many ways to use talent like that for God. It's great.
As for creativity, for me it's all about writing. But to get my juices flowing? I don't know, usually I just open the book document, read the notes I left there when I quit last time. I usually write a sentence about where I'm going next and any thoughts I've had about what went before in the book, then I work off of that.
I do spend a lot of time listening to KLOVE, on the drive to and from work and I love that. It's energizing and the poetry and musical talent all being used to worship are so inspirational. I really connect Contemporary Christian music to Christian fiction because both are growing so fast right at the same time and I think that says a lot about how far the world has gone away from faith that we need to create out own industry. Plus, it says a lot about how many Christians there are that we can SUPPORT our own industry.
Movie like The Passion are just the next step, we're now creating our own movie industry. Now television and the art world and what else? Why not a Christian American Idol? The sky's the limit.
Nice post. I'm always surprised at how others view me and how I view myself. Sometimes I would love to be that person they think I am. :) Sometimes, not!
As for what gets my creative juices flowing: just put me in a car with a pen and notebook and I'll brainstorm for hundreds of miles. When I'm blocked and can't seem to go forward in a chapter, nine times out of ten, a solution will come to me when I'm behind the wheel. Uh... this only happens when I'm alone. My husband always wants me to drive but he has a problem when I hit I-10 then reach for pen and paper. LOL
Great post, Annie! Thanks. It set my creative/thinking juices to flowing.
Creativity comes in lots of forms for me. Besides my writing and speaking, I do/have done a variety of things. Necessity is the mother of invention, they say, and being a pastor's wife with a willing heart, I've done all kinds of things, and they've developed me, for which I'm grateful.
I've written church plays, made the backdrops and costumes, and starred in them.
I've painted murals and friezes on the walls of my homes and various churches.
I've done almost every kind of church work there is, such as serving as pianist/organist, youth pastor, children’s church director, women’s leader, youth choir director, Sunday school teacher, nursery director, church secretary, choir member, events coordinator, and I've cleaned enough commodes to last a lifetime!
More "Weird Things" are on my blog: http://christianlovestories.blogspot.com/2007/02/six-weird-things-about-me.html.
I lose track of time when I'm writing. I write contemporary Christian romance fiction, sweet and clean. When I'm unaware of the time and I don't even remember to stop and have lunch, you'd better believe it's something I'm interested in!
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