If it's anything like last year, February is going to do its best to depress us with grey, wet weather. So here's a word to take your mind off what's happening outside: creativity!
I wonder what comes into your mind with that word? For some it will mean a new idea; for others, a new cake recipe. One person may be inspired to paint, another to write, sing, knit or play a master stroke of golf. Still others are skilled in living life well, creating a home to relax in, or a safe space for others to confide their troubles or lessen their loneliness.
Yet strangely enough, given how much we appreciate such gifts in others, the very idea of ‘creativity' can feel like a threat. Someone may have been told as a child that they could not sing, or had no talent for drawing. When we are young, we tend to believe what others say about us. So sadly, sometimes we may take a throwaway line from a harried teacher as gospel truth. Others can do it well - whatever it is - but, we sadly conclude, we will never be able to aspire to the giddy heights of creativity.
In one sense, that's perfectly true. Let's face it: I'll never be as good an artist as Rembrandt. My musical skills will never rival those of Duke Ellington; I'll never be able to match Shakespeare in poetry, Alan Titchmarsh in the garden or even Delia Smith in the kitchen. I suspect most of you would say the same. But how much does it matter if none of us is a creative genius?
When I worked for Lion Publishing, you'd be amazed at the number of people who used to send us in ideas for books they'd had. Some of them were convinced that God wanted us to publish their book - unfortunately God had rarely told us the same. But though my boss had to write a good many letters of rejection, she didn't rob would-be writers of the joy of creativity. ‘Write it out,' she would encourage them. ‘Share it with your friends. Read it to your children or your writers' group. Just because the results may not reach thousands, that needn't stop your creativity.'
The more I've thought about it, the more I think my boss was right. God's given us all creativity in some measure - after all, we are each of us made in the image of the Creator of everything - and if we can do as little as hum a tune that will send a fractious child to sleep, that may be more appreciated in the right circumstances than being able to sell out the Albert Hall.
So everyone reading this who's always wanted to have a go at matters creative: now's your chance! On 23rd June this year we will be holding an exhibition on the theme: ‘Mind-Body-Spirit', both in St Andrew's and in the Broomhall Community Centre up the road, for which everyone who lives or worships in Broomhall is encouraged to create their own masterpiece to be exhibited. There will also be taster sessions for the creative arts and other creative excitements during the day. So painters, photographers, embroiderers, writers, sculptors, cartoonists - this is your chance! Take it in both hands! And you'll find the weather outside won't bother you in the least, as the Spirit works creatively within!