All things have a history, and creativity is never creation from nothing, but a response to all that has been inherited. – Andy Crouch, Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling
None of us live in a vacuum. From the time we are born we are immersed in a given culture. We have a particular family; we live in a specific place; we grow up in a certain community. We are exposed to various influences throughout our lives: the stories we are told, the books we read, the movies we watch, the music we listen to, the conversations we hear, and the images we see. All of these things become part of us, whether we want them to or not.
Our own creativity builds off of the creativity of all those who have come before. God is the master Creator, but each person who has lived has left a creative mark and impacted the future. We are inspired by what we see and engage with. We may be compelled to respond immediately to some stimulus. Other times, something we were exposed to years before can move to our consciousness and require us to create some response. When we take part in a conversation, whether in writing or verbally, we are responding to someone else’s creative output. We are all part of this incredible ongoing creative act.
We owe those who have come before us a huge debt of gratitude for all that they have contributed to the story. By the same token, we are influencing generations yet to be born without even realizing it. Thanks to the internet, our ideas and creative efforts can impact people around the world. We influence people we never meet. We never know who might be inspired in some way by something we have done. We should leave the world at least a bit better than the world we were born into. Our creative efforts are one building block in a cathedral of God’s ongoing design.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for all who have come before me, those whose ideas have shaped who I am. Thank you for allowing me to contribute to the ongoing story of Creation.
Action
What creative influences have most shaped you? If there is a particular person who has contributed a great deal to your creative vision, is there a way to thank him or her? If the person is alive, perhaps you can write a thoughtful note. If the person is dead, offer a prayer for that person’s soul. What creative legacy do you want to leave behind? Is there a way for you to be more intentional about what you put into the world?
This is an excerpt from The Work of Our Hands. (Amazon affiliate link)
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