As I awake on this cold, snowy Thanksgiving morning and begin to move about the house, I am immediately grateful for a few days away from the university to have some quiet time to read, write, pray and, of course, cook, eat and spend time with family. There will be a good balance of communal life and solitude this weekend, and I am reminded how important both are to the richness and fullness of life and faith. I thank God for both.
There’s a murder of crows somewhere outside raising a ruckus, which makes me think of my very first blog entries, two of them on Thanksgiving Day, 2009. You can read both of them here and here. (The crows make an appearance in the second post). As I re-read these words, I am grateful for all that has transpired over the past five years, including my times of disease, treatment and healing. However worrying and painful at times, these moments are all part of the one same story, a journey that led, shaped and changed me along the way. I have deep gratitude and joy for the journey and for all of those who have walked it with me.
Five years ago, a similar group of noisy crows helped me kick off the part of this journey that I chronicle here on this website. It’s just a small part of my life, if we measure life in the amount of time we spend doing any one thing, but it’s the place where I have continued to turn to help me make sense of the rest of life. Hopefully, as I write to clarify for myself what this “God stuff” all means, I’ve been able to help you think about your own journey, encouraged you to “ask yourself in silence” how God is moving and working in your life. That’s always been my goal, and I pledge to continue along that good and well-tread path.
As I re-read those first entries, I’m reminded of my original intent, which was to take a special look at the intersection of that place where spirituality and creativity meet. I think I’ve done that to a certain extent, but in the coming year I intend to spend a little more time at that intersection, reflecting on my own creativity as well as that of others, searching for and pointing out the inseparability — at least for me — of those two concepts and practices. Spirituality and creativity, as ideas and as ways of living and acting, both point to the same place, back to the Creator and Spirit that moved across the abyss and created everything out of nothing.
I know that many of you — I would say all of you — are creative people yourselves, involved in writing and art and music and other forms of expression. And if you’re not, I’d encourage you to ask yourself if there might be some work for you to do. As I move forward into the new year, I’m going to encourage that creativity in those of you who read my blog, even as I encourage you to look deep within for the source of that good work.
For we are, in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien:
Sub-creator, the refracted light
through whom is splintered from a single White
to many hues, and endlessly combined
in living shapes that move from mind to mind.
Though all the crannies of the world we filled
with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build
Gods and their houses out of dark and light,
and sowed the seed of dragons, ’twas our right
(used or misused). The right has not decayed.
We make still by the law in which we’re made.
I’ll continue to suggest that you “ask yourself in silence,” but I’m also going to encourage you through creative “prompts” to delve deep into that silence and come back with something to share. Share your thoughts, prayers and poems with me through the comment button so that everyone else can see them, too. From time to time I may choose some of those to share in one of my posts. If your creative expression takes you to the more visual worlds of art and you wish to share, you can send files or links to me via email to givenscreative@gmail.com for consideration to be shared with others via the site. I can’t and won’t share everything, but I look forward to seeing and hearing about what you are finding and creating from the deep and silent places where the breath of God lives within you.
Peace to you all.
Ask yourself in silence: What’s God saying to me today? What “voice” do I have to share that with the world?
Judi says
Steve, your meditations on this site have been a green oasis for me many times in the desert of despair or hopelessness…about life, aging, relevance, etc. You are one of the most versatile creative people I have ever known, and also one of the most Spirit-led and generous with your talents and your time. I thank God on this thanksgiving day for the opportunity to have worked with you, watched your talents expand, and have you and Sue as my friends. Blessings always. I will follow your blog with great hope in the coming year. Blessings always.
Barbara says
I am very grateful to you that you have shared your insights with me and so many others this past year. The more grateful I become the more things I find to be grateful for; some of which I never would have thought to be grateful for, all the way to the end of this life and the beginning of our new life.
Alfredo J Ríos says
Congratulations, thanks for your great blog, it really helos everyone of us.
Debbie Henderson says
Hi Steve,
Thank you for taking the time to write your thoughts in your blog. I look forward to reading them. I feel God calling me to do something but am not sure what it is yet. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Gale says
Steve,
First time today reading your blog and will be following you regularly now. I have been greatly blessed by your writings in many places, esp Living Faith. Thank you for all your sharing.
Early November I was searching my heart and mind for creative, spiritual Christmas gifts for granddaughters pushing 16 and 18, the oldest leaving for college next year. I decided to write a daily journal, mostly spiritual for each of them. Thus far it has been a great blessing to me, albeit lots of work, and I pray it will be a lifelong source of connection for us and that they will come to know their own personal Savior better.
Blessings this advent, Christmas season to you and yours.
admin says
Gale, what a great gift you are giving your granddaughters. They will long forget the sweaters and DVDs, but they will never forget your letters!