We are a reflection of our origin. Genesis 1:26 and 27 tells us that God created humankind in his image. As such, we are God’s likeness in his creation. We are the “Signature of the Divine;” as the contemporary Christian music group, Needtobreathe, said in the song of the same title. Being created in his image, we are endowed with attributes that relate to God’s nature. One of these is the need to create.
In the classic sense, to create means that I make something new from whatever is on hand. Creativity is usually associated with art, music, film, theater, writing, or other, similar vocations. We typically don’t think of other occupations as “creative.” But isn’t a carpenter in his or her own way creative, or a bricklayer? There is even a certain nuance to the plumber’s craft that may be lost to you and me.
I think that creativity goes deeper than making something out of bits and pieces of whatever medium I work in. Creativity produces circumstances or conditions that facilitate the emotions or well-being of those that receive whatever was created. A painting can inspire or repulses the audience. A piece of music can soothe the nerves or inflame the passions of the listener. In the same way, I think creativity can be applied to any vocation, career, or job. A builder can create a home for a family where they feel safe and secure. A financial planner can help a person create and live out a retirement where that person feels secure and comfortable.
The point of creating, then, is not what was created but how it impacts those who receive it. When I think about God and his creative acts, he created a world where humankind could live free from want and secure in their lives and he, the creator, could participate in what he had created.
This is not to say that creating is a selfish act. True, the person who paints the picture, composes the music, or builds a birdhouse feels a sense of accomplishment and pride; but, what matters is how the created thing impacts the one who receives it. As Jesus said, “Watch out for the false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them.” (Matt 7:15 -16, NIV)
When I started writing poems, it was a release. I was not planning on publishing them; that came later. After a time, though, I realized that there was a theme in them to them; and, I wondered if others might find hope and encouragement in them. So, I published Reborn and Other Versifications. Whether If readers buy a dozen copies or 12 thousand dozen copies doesn’t matter. if one person finds hope and encouragement through reading them, then I will have accomplished something.
A. E. Fonner
The point of creating, then, is not what was created but how it impacts those who receive it.
