But Jesus bowing himself down, wrote with his finger on the ground. – John 8:6
This passage comes from the story of the woman caught in adultery. Under Mosaic Law, she is about to be stoned. In Scribbling in the Sand: Christ and Creativity, Michael Card examines this passage in depth. We do not know what Jesus wrote in the sand. Perhaps it was a line from Scripture, or a list of the accusers’ sins. Perhaps he simply doodled as many of us are prone to do when we are thinking. Whatever it was, the act of writing in the sand offered time for all involved in the conversation to take a breath. In music or poetry, it is called a caesura, a pause. Jesus used an act of creativity to allow for a time of reflection.
Creativity often provides that gift of time to think about things. The actual act of creativity is a reflective process. Whether consciously or not, thought process and preparation goes into the work being created. Often, there is something one is trying to build or a message one is attempting to convey. Most creative works have a purpose.
A second time of reflection occurs when someone interacts with the work in some way. This could be enjoying a meal someone made, listening to a song or a poem, reading a book, entering a building, or looking at a painting, etc. We have the opportunity to appreciate the creative act. We can take a breath and discover something new. We have the chance to change and be different (however slightly) from who we were a few moments before.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, you showed us the importance of creating opportunities to reflect. Help me to stop rushing and take moments to breathe and appreciate the creative gifts around me.
Action
If there is a tense or stress-filled moment in your day, find a way to take a creative pause. Stop and doodle or hum a few bars of music. Take a moment to mentally take a break from the situation and give all involved time to reflect.
This is an excerpt from The Work of Our Hands. (Amazon affiliate link)
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