Free to Create

Several years ago, I experienced a renewal in my life with God. It was a remarkable, refreshing encounter that sent me scrambling for new ways to express what I was finding in Scripture and in my heart. I never considered myself to be artistic: I had creative impulses but not the sort worth sharing with the world…

As I studied scripture and prayed, pictures came to mind that illustrated what I was reading. For example, what kind of disciple did I want to be? Would I skim across the surface of our faith, ignoring much of what was below? Or be a snorkeler, still on the surface, but seeing the wonders of the sea’s upper level? Or would I be a scuba diver, exploring the depths? So, I drew a picture of the three swimmers.

As I sat back and looked at my drawing, I laughed. God was right there with me, and he was laughing too. Not at me, but with me. The drawing was a little bit of fun, a goofy representation of an eternal truth, and a moment we were sharing.

Over the next week or two, I continued to play with drawing pictures of God’s word to me. In my mind, something shifted. I felt free — free to be a child with a new box of Crayons, free to draw without wondering if it was good enough, free to just have fun.

Sometimes I struggle with negative thoughts about my writing, but then I remember this playfulness. I let go of my high-flying, perfection-seeking adult, and embrace that child-like love of creating.