Written by I was so exasperated, I wanted to run away.
Of course, this was ridiculous. I was a few short years away from turning sixty and had long missed my opportunity to respond to feeling overwhelmed by hitting the road with a teddy bear and a mini-suitcase.
It wasn’t like I was asked to solve the world’s economic problems or find a cure for cancer. No—the reason I got so upset was that the leader of the women’s conference I attended sent us off into different corners of the room to “dream with God.”
Agh.
I hated that.
I hated it because I had no dreams and felt stressed about sitting in the corner and pretending that God and I were having a grand ol’ time discussing rainbows and unicorns. I was convinced that my “dreaming time” would turn into yet another opportunity for me to tap into my inner brokenness. I had a talent for studying and achieving goals, but dreaming and creativity? Not so much.
Having ruled out running away, I dragged myself to a corner of the room and shut my eyes in obedience. Almost immediately, I thought about tap dancing.
“How random and ridiculous,” I thought. I scolded myself to try harder…Harderrrrr!
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to channel rainbows and unicorns. Or a business idea. Or something that resembled decent “dreaming with God” material.
Nothing came.
This exercise confirmed what I suspected all along. My ability to dream was broken. I was a failure at dreaming, and this disturbed me. As terrible as I was at dreaming, I was truly awful at failing.
And I liked it that way…
I much preferred the safety of success, thank you very much.
When the conference leader asked for feedback about the “dreaming” exercise, I didn’t plan to share. Tap dancing didn’t seem to be the “right” answer, and I didn’t want to “add failing in public” to “failing at this exercise”.
Except…
I heard a little voice in my head whisper, “What if it’s Me?”
Okay God, I hear you…
I raised my hand.
“This probably isn’t anything, but I think I heard ‘tap dancing.’”
Leader: Does that mean anything to you?
“Um, well, I took ballet as a kid, but always thought it would be cool to tap, like my friend Teresa.”
Leader: I think that qualifies as a dream.
Okayyyy…I thought.
Rainbows and unicorns, it is.
I found a class and enrolled.
I signed up for tap dancing lessons with one of the kindest and most encouraging teachers on the planet, so I couldn’t blame anyone but myself when I was near tears each week. It was ridiculous how stressful memorizing routines were.
The irony of my near meltdowns was not lost on me. I was supposed to be living “my dream,” but often, it felt like I was preparing for final exams—ones that I was sure to fail. It was hard to tap into (no pun intended) the joy of shuffling to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop The Feeling,” when I was battling my old nemeses, perfectionism and performance.
To add insult to injury, fear also had a habit of joining the class to remind me that my brain wasn’t as sharp as it used to be. At times, my brain seemed to spasm, leaving my feet waiting for instructions. Between the fear that I was losing my mind and the shame that I missed a step, I almost gave up entirely…
Except my teacher rescued me by giving me a prop.
We had learned a new routine to Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York, and were about to run through it for the first time when my teacher, Danielle, ran in the back to get a cane. Not because I was old, but because she thought it might be fun to have a prop to incorporate into the routine.
I was thrilled!
With cane in hand, I was suddenly transported from the dance studio in Bayonne, N.J., to a stage in New York as a dancer with the Rockettes. I didn’t realize that a prop could yield so much power…and freedom!
Some might call it magic; I prefer to think of it as a pathway from my left brain to my right. The cane helped me to let go of rules and logic and tap into the free-flowing dream center of creativity and play. I left behind counts and shuffles and found myself debuting on the big stage in N.Y.
It was absolutely mahhhvelous…
Perhaps there is a land of rainbows and unicorns after all.
A Case for Creativity
I’ve learned quite a bit about dreaming and creativity since my tap dancing days in New Jersey.
Perhaps, most importantly, I learned that we all have the capacity to create and dream because it’s embedded in our DNA. Scripture declares that we are made in the image of God (Gen 1:27), who creates:
“In the beginning, God created…” (Gen 1:1)
Creativity is a reflection of divine image-bearing; it’s not optional for us—it’s essential. God created and still is creating; so shall we.
When we tap into the part of us that reflects God’s creativity, we glorify Him and serve others.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10)
Can you think back to a time when you were blessed by the brilliance of someone’s creative genius?
- A painting that left you awestruck
- A musical performance that prompted you to jump to your feet in applause
- The perfect timing of a comedian that caused you to erupt in a deep belly laugh
- The incredible storytelling ability of a toddler who used stuffed animals as props
- A local street performer who kept you mesmerized through his entire act
- The interior design of a friend’s home that took your breath away
- Sitting in the stunning back garden of a neighbor that left you feeling deep peace
In each of those instances, you were touched by the creativity of human beings reflecting the creativity of their Creator. How cool is that?
Objections
You may have many reasons why you think you aren’t creative. However, for the sake of brevity, let’s divide your potential objections into three categories:
- I can’t
- I fear
- I won’t
I Can’t:
People in this category believe the lie that they cannot create. Sometimes, it’s because they equate creativity with the arts—painting, music, or writing—so if they’re not artists, they assume they’re not creative. They miss that creativity also includes problem-solving, innovation, leadership, hospitality, teaching, gardening, photography, fashion, cooking, and, you guessed it…tap dancing.
People in this category can mistakenly believe it’s their responsibility to conjure up creativity when, in reality, they simply need to let God work through them. The author of The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron, puts it like this:
“The heart of creativity is an experience of the mystical union; the heart of the mystical union is an experience of creativity. Those who speak in spiritual terms routinely refer to God as the creator, but seldom see creator as the literal term for artist. I am suggesting you take the term creator quite literally. You are seeking to forge a creative alliance, artist-to-artist, with the Great Creator. Accepting this concept can greatly expand your creative possibilities…When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the Creator’s creativity within us and our lives.”
Response: If you are in the “I can’t” category, I invite you to say this prayer:
My Father and Creator: I acknowledge that I am made in your image and as such, I am destined to create. Forgive me for believing the lie that I am not creative. I turn away from agreeing with that lie. What is your truth about me? What is my next step? (Write down what you sense God saying.)
I Fear:
Many people shut down creativity because of criticism or embarrassment, which often began in childhood. If that is you, I am so sorry. You may have been compared to others who are highly gifted creatives, which can lead to discouragement and self-doubt.
Creativity involves risk and vulnerability. Fear of not doing it “right” or being judged will stifle creativity. (Remember what happened to me in tap class?) Perfectionism can stifle the experimental. It wasn’t until I imagined myself as a Rockette that I began to have fun in my dance classes.
Sadly, because Western culture often values utility and efficiency over exploration and play, some people fear being perceived as frivolous or indulgent. However, nothing could be further from the truth. If you spend time picking out a fun and colorful outfit to wear, you are a walking, talking billboard for God.
Response: If you are in the “I fear” category, I invite you to say this prayer.
My Father and Creator: I acknowledge that because I am made in your image, I am destined to create. I choose to forgive anyone who taught me I am not creative or shamed me for making mistakes. Please break the power of perfectionism and performance in my life. I want to be free to partner with you to dream and create, in alignment with my divine DNA. What is my next step? (Write down what you sense God saying.)
I Won’t:
Some Christians may wrongly see creativity as worldly, indulgent, or not as “serious” as other spiritual gifts. Others have the mistaken idea that some forms of art are inherently “spiritual” (sacred) and others are purely worldly or unspiritual (secular). This creates a divide where:
- “Sacred art” (like worship music, church murals, or biblical illustrations) is seen as godly, valuable, and appropriate for Christian expression.
- “Secular art” (like novels, films, photography, or songs that aren’t explicitly about God) is seen as less meaningful—or even suspect—because it doesn’t carry overt religious content.
Oh my goodness, nothing could be further from the truth.
All truth, beauty, and creativity ultimately reflect the Creator, even if they are not labeled “Christian.” The Bible itself includes storytelling, poetry, and metaphors that engage the imagination without always being direct doctrinal instruction. Anyone can (and should) glorify God by creating excellent work, even about everyday life, love, or loss, not just by creating overtly religious content.
Response: If you are in the “I won’t” category, I invite you to say this prayer:
My Father and Creator: I acknowledge that because I am made in your image, I am destined to create. I am not limited to religious expressions of creativity because, as your child, I can use creative expression in infinite ways. Open my eyes to see the depth and breadth of what is possible. Forgive me for trying to limit you or myself. What hidden treasures of creativity have you placed in me? What is my next step? (Write down what you sense God saying.)
The Journey
If you already know that you are creative and routinely tap into God’s nature and glory, good for you! Perhaps your next step is to explore expressions of creativity that are not normally in your wheelhouse. For example, if you already sing in your church choir, what other ways can you express creativity in your life? Ask God’s Spirit to lead you in the kitchen as you cook a meal from scratch or guide you as you consider what to wear. Try putting an outfit together in a way you haven’t done before. Mix and match something old with something new that steps outside your norm. Remember that rules and regulations stifle creativity, so try to silence the voice in your head that shouts, “You can’t do that!”
On the other hand, if you are stuck in the “I can’t,” “I fear,” or “I won’t” mindset, I encourage you to make the decision to step into “the more” of what God has for you.
My journey in the area of creativity has taken me from exasperation to exhilaration. This newsletter is some of the fruit of this journey.
How cool is that? 🤩
I’m excited to hear about your experience with creativity! Please share your experience in the comments below!