Creators! Let's Create!

I went to church with my grandsons on Sunday. This was the first time the church was fully opened since the pandemic began. Opened, with the exception of limited seating that was maxed out and distanced. What amused me the most was when we walked up to the front doors, tables were set up outside with these bowls of wrist bands on them. Each color had a specific meaning for each one's social desires: Red = “So glad to be here, but please keep a safe distance”; Yellow = “Ready to chat but prefer not touch”; Green = “Ready for hugs & handshakes”. I’m sure introverts loved the red ones; the non-huggers, the yellow ones; and, the social butterflies, the green ones.

I liked that creativity. I also appreciated the thoughtful way the rows of chairs were spaced a good distance apart with two seats between families. Creativity seems to have been a major plus during these times. Sometimes a crisis becomes a strong driver of creativity and innovation. We’ve witnessed it on many levels – families who became creative within their family dynamics – more outdoors activities, indoor games, creative projects and creativity and innovation at national, state and in educational levels here at the start of another school year.

Anyone who spends time on social media has probably noticed that hidden between the political rants and Covid fears are more interesting posts sharing someone’s latest craft-work, recipe, a talent being shown off, or a Facebook Live inspirational talk or some other kind of hilarious situation – many of which have gone viral. Most represent small, but important moments of creativity. I’ve seen many of my friends completing jigsaw puzzles. One couple was so creative that the 1,000-piece puzzles became an opportunity. When they placed a piece, they would offer up a prayer. 1,000 pieces meant 1,000 prayers.

The examples of everyday imagination we see on our timeline may not strike us as creative-with-a-capital-C. Clever family photos, meme creations, or Zoom singalongs may not be the best-of-talents, but we can’t let comparison diminish their value. If creativity is a light, it does not have an on/off switch. My view is that creativity has a dimmer switch, growing from a tiny bit creative to a little creative to creative enough to light up the whole room. I’ve seen that in the way my own family has come up with creative work spaces for school projects and backgrounds for videos.

The truth is we are ALL creators because we were made in the image of OUR Creator. Erwin McManus says: "Creativity should be an everyday experience -- as common as breathing. We breathe, therefore we create.” And on another level of creativity is everyday we have the opportunity to not only create beauty in others by the way we speak to them, but we have the opportunity to create environments conducive to turning darkness to light, animosity to tenderness and kindness, hatred to love and sadness to joy!

So, CREATORS!!! Let’s CREATE!!! Let’s get our “creative” juices flowing and start creating beauty and life with OUR words AND actions! Wouldn’t it be great if we could look at OUR creations, and, like God, say, “It is very good!” (Genesis 1:31)

Being a DIY Underachiever.....or Not

Let’s be honest – we’d all like to be that husband/dad/man who can build or fix just about anything. And, in the female species, the gal who is incessantly on FB or Instagram touting their latest, successful DIY project. I’m Joanna Gaines in my dream world. My daughter and her husband amazed me when their DIY project at their townhome became a complete success. Go here to see the video! https://rvepiphany.com/f/building-a-courtyard

I put some DIY action to my dreams during quarantine – after all, there was plenty of time to DIY something – anything! Mind you – I am NOT Joanna Gaines in any way, but I am pleased with my meager efforts. I planted some perennials. Whoohoo! And, that empty Texas planter on my front porch now has some beautiful succulents added to it. It’s nice to see something growing in it. I tried cooking some new recipes and I have a freezer full to choose from! Does that score any points at all? I bought a ring light for all these Zoom meetings I attend – and set it up myself! I made a door wreath for Easter! I cut my hair and colored it. Hmm! Maybe I’m not a DIY want-to-be after all!

My latest projects include the facemasks I made for myself. Thanks to the internet for the “how-to’s”! AND, after a 36" x 24" outdoor wood hanging (left from the previous owners) became weather-worn and lost its hold to the bricks it was adhered to, I took some decals from my after-Christmas buys, stained the wall-hanging and whoa-la – my Christmas DIY project success! I was giving myself some kudos for my minuscule efforts.

I love the words “Joy to the World – the Lord is come”! What a wonderful reminder, right here still in precarious times and still six months from Christmas, that no matter the time of year – we can find joy right in the midst of it all – because our Lord came to bring us His peace and joy all the time.

Maybe you’d like to be a DIY kind-of-gal or guy, too! Take it from me – we don’t really have to feel the peer pressure because God made us all individually with abilities and creative “bents” – you know bent on gardening, bent on cooking, bent on reading, bent on creating, etc. I’m learning to celebrate anyone with those artistic and creative bents.

Maybe, instead of wishing for more talent, more-craftiness, being more creative and artistic, we should be grateful for who God made us to be right here, in this place. We can be grateful AND we can be determined to learn something new. We really have no excuses to wish and pine away because we’re not “all that and a bag of chips”. We can learn something new from a world of YouTube videos that show us just about any and everything we want to do. As a matter of fact, I was watching YouTube videos this week to find out the best bait to use, and how to use it, for catching trout in Red River, NM waters we’re headed to next month! No excuses! No wishing-upon-a-star! No defeatist attitude! We can start by saying “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ Who gives me strength!” (Philippians 4:13) That means WE CAN do ALL THINGS – because we’re BENT on being DIY people that can do all things through Him!

Practice and Practice Makes Perfect

I thoroughly enjoyed the TV show “Little Big Shots” with Steve Harvey, as the most incredible talents were revealed by the youngest children. Case in point: Four-year old Evan Le who “picked up” the piano only a few months before and played “The Flight of the Bumblebee” masterfully. (I posted the link below if you’d like to see it. It’s hilarious AND amazing!) I can understand how methodical training, coupled with guidance from parents and teachers, and personal determination and drive – the faster and the younger the children are in becoming accomplished musicians or whatever they are given to learn.

On a personal note, I started taking piano lessons when I was 8 years old. The first thing I learned was how to read the notes on a page and associate those notes to the keys on the piano. Then I learned how to look at the music and pay attention to my fingers at the same time. That sounds like a lot of coordination is involved, and, yes, it is -- eyes, fingers, ears, and a good brain. But as I practiced and practiced (for years -- much longer than kids today), something remarkable happened. Not only was I able, by instinct, to play what I was seeing, but before long, I even had music memorized and I was able to play by memory. All those lessons and all that practice served me well over the years as I played the piano and organ for our church and our quartet that itinerated around the U.S. and Canada.

Learning to play the piano (or any instrument) takes time, determination, practice and consistency. And that's the way it is with anything that we want to accomplish in life -- whether it be in learning to cook or a new language, being good at a sport, dance, or even in being a better husband/wife, parent, friend, employee or neighbor.

Let's say we really do want to be caring and giving. Maybe we've been "all about me" for far too long, and now we're ready for change. First we get a plan of action (like I had to with learning to read the notes and keys). Every day we think about how we can be more kind and generous to our spouse or neighbor or work associates. Then we determine to carry out that plan (just as I practiced over and over). We practice by offering to help someone with something they are having to do (i.e., clean out a garage, help an associate with meeting a deadline, take care of a neighbor's kids, tutor a child, offer to help at a local charity, etc.). And we keep on practicing those caring and giving habits. All of a sudden, by instinct -- by second nature -- we are living out what we put into practice. We become the one that raises our hand when someone asks for help -- just instinctively. We can't help it -- it's second nature.

Indeed....practice makes perfect in just about everything we hope to excel in -- in life -- and that holds true to practicing love, harmony, faith, good attitude, consideration for others, and generosity.

Here’s that darling video of Steve Harvey and Evan Le: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnXT8SY4-9Q
#PracticeMakesPerfect

So last week my son asked me if I would be going to the Michael Bublé Concert in Tulsa this week. Because I'm still a hopeless romantic over the love my Honey and I shared, I responded, "No, Michael Buble' reminds me too much about how much Daddy and I loved his music." The words were no sooner out of mouth when I thought...."What? Are you kidding me? Did I say that? Where did that remark come from? I, who would be kicked out of a Widows Support Group because I'm so on purpose with living in joy and peace -- living life large, not looking in the rear view mirror, but I'm full throttle on my assignment here -- enjoying the beautiful life God has given me. And, why wouldn't I go and experience Michael's God-given talent and voice that is so soothing, unique -- not to mention he is quite funny!"

I know, during this season of my life, it's so beneficial to have new experiences and friendships and humor......lots of humor. In my community, there are five of us widows who LIVE outrageously. We don't sit around and talk about being sad and we don't sing sad songs. Instead, when we get together, we do lots of new things, and we have lots of fun experiences. So, when my friend, Marcia, called to say she had four tickets for the Michael Buble' Concert in OKC, and asked, "Wanna' go?" I didn't flinch and said, "YES, and I'll drive!"

And, WOW, it was a night of special favors. from God. Beautiful cool weather (seriously -- a cool day in OK in August), our tickets were half priced, found a great parking place right at BrickTown -- $8 instead of other lots at $20, met some Bricktown ambassadors who encouraged us to go Bourbon Street Cafe for dinner "and be sure and ask for a table on the canal", they said. We did, and got the last table in the shade and on the canal to be had, listened to great Cajun music, great waiters, great Cajun food, and the manager brought a complimentary bread pudding with rum sauce and 4 spoons. And to top it off -- Michael Buble melted our hearts with his soulful crooning.

I really think that we attract what we put out there. And because we live with such zest for life, optimism and great expectation -- favors and blessings just come to us. Personally, if I were living in the past.....I would NEVER be enjoying life to this extent. Let's live for the beauty and joys that still await us everyday on this side of heaven. Might as well croon along with Michael and start singing and living "It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new life for me. And I'm feeling GOOD!"