“The act of creation is always a solitary one. Others can encourage us to create. They cannot create for us. The man of ten talents needs the same courage as the man of one…. Surely, I reasoned, it must be the magnitude of their gifts that enables artists and scientists and inventors to go on producing when they are rejected and scorned by their own contemporaries. Now I am not so sure that the greatness of the talent has any direct relation to the degree of persistence with which it is developed.
When I become aware of my own gifts and give my attention to communicating what is in me—my own truth, as it were—I have the experience of growing toward wholeness. I am working out God’s “chosen purpose,” and I am no longer dependent on what others think and how they respond. The experience itself is confirming. The response of others can give me pleasure or pain, but it cannot keep me from the act of creating.”
Elizabeth O’Connor, from Inward/Outward
on saturday night at the refuge we had an open share evening, creative works of art, photography, spoken word, video, poetry, songs, and everything in between. it was beautiful. powerful. rich. keith shared something that todd fadel from the bridge in portland said when they were with us this summer: “creativity is healing.” saturday night was healing, not just for those who shared but for those who listened & soaked in our friend’s hearts & passion.
below are some pictures from the evening. more pictures are here.
we didn’t have time to share some responses to the beauty together because of time, so we’d love for you to comment here.
what got stirred up in you?
how did you see God’s beauty reflected?
how was creativity healing?
Any time we share we have the opportunity to receive love and courage from others and we also have the opportunity to learn and know that we are not alone or crazy. There are others who have shared pieces of our story and that is invaluable to live in this life. When we share our creativity all of this happens and a little something more because somehow when you share some thing that you’ve created then you risk several pieces of yourself at once. This is so scary and so beautiful and so many people shared so many pieces of themselves and told stories to those of us there and it was so lovely to be invited to know and love these men and women more and more. And I felt so peaceful and proud as I watched so many of my friends bring their hearts and minds and bodies to the front and share so boldly and I can’t wait until we do it again.
Thank you so much for letting me come and enjoy the night of beauty with you all and to share my poem.
It was healing for me and like a cool refreshing drink to be with you and share in what God is doing in your lives.
As always, these nights of creativity (and I’m including the stations here, too) bring another dimension of connectivity to each other and God.
And Davida, thanks so much for joining us and being so brave!