Day 27 of Embracing Your Creative Gifts: Bring Beauty to the World

 

Not only are we able to be creative, we also have a responsibility – a God-given responsibility – to be creative, to create beauty around us for beauty’s sake, to live with a deeper sense of purpose. – Mary C. Gildersleeve, In His Image: Nurturing Creativity in the Heart of Your Home

If you are just starting to become comfortable with the idea of yourself as a creative person, it may be a challenge to now accept that you have a responsibility to be creative. It can be hard to wrap your mind around the idea that being creative is an essential part of what it means to live as a child of God. Yet, in bestowing on all of us the gift of creativity, God also entrusts us with the responsibility to use it.

Each day, as we take part in the ongoing work of creation, we have the opportunity and responsibility to add beauty to the world in some small way. We can make our living spaces or workspaces more attractive. This need not be a major task. We can clean off a counter or gather up a bouquet of flowers and place them in a vase for all to enjoy. We can tend to our garden or decorate our outdoor spaces. We can make some cookies to share to brighten someone’s day. We can arrange a comfortable place for someone to sit and rest. These are all simple ways to add beauty and joy to our world.

Yes, sometimes we are called to add beauty to the world in large ways, but, more often than not, a beautiful environment is created one small step at a time. Many of us do it instinctively simply because we enjoy being in a beautiful space. What if we viewed those small acts with more intention? What if we understood that these small contributions are all part of a much larger work of creation?

Prayer

Dear God, please help me to embrace the responsibility to add to the beauty of the world. Help me each day in some small way to contribute to your ongoing work of creation.

Action

Make a special effort today to do some small things to help make your living or work space more beautiful. Realize that those small acts serve a greater purpose.

This is an excerpt from The Work of Our Hands. (Amazon affiliate link)