“Mom, I’m bored! What can I do?”
“I’m assigning you the new sales campaign. You’ll need to present it to the board next week. Now, they’re hard to please, so make sure it’s a real winner!”
“Hi, I’m going on vacation, so can you teach my Sunday School class? No, we don’t use any curriculum; you can talk to the children about whatever Bible story you want. I’m sure you’ll do great; the kids’ll love you!”
Now what? How do you deal with the responsibility to innovate? How do you handle the pressure to generate novel solutions to daunting problems? When your kids are bored, what do you tell them? When your job requires you to draw up a marketing plan from scratch, where do you start? The Bible has so many stories; which one should you choose to teach to a bunch of kids?
A clean page or blank screen intimidates me. You want to create something that’s meaningful, but where do you begin?
The Bible opens with the account of God’s creative activity. That’s good news. But now it’s your turn. Does that make you nervous? How can God help?
He created time; an empty canvas designed to be filled in. By what? Your labor. God creates; so should you.
Let His Word guide you.
Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Accept the Present
“This is the day”
Today. Now. Not looking wistfully at the past; not deferring to the future. To create, start now. Do the most difficult thing – show up! Just by taking that simple step, you’ve already conquered most of your excuses.
Go Ahead
“The Lord has made”
God’s already done His work. Your opportunity lies before you. No need to hesitate. The canvas is set up; the sheet of paper rests on your desk. Nervous? Maybe, but open your eyes and take in all His provisions that surround you. You’re more prepared than you may feel.
Work Together
“We”
Oh, the icon of the solitary genius! But creativity requires teamwork. Bounce your ideas off others. Question them and insist that they question you. Good ideas can withstand the scrutiny. And other people can help make your good ideas great.
Focus on the Future
“Will”
Does this contradict the emphasis on the present moment? Not really. It takes time to put on the page what hides within your soul. And you may not even know what you think; what you’d like to communicate. That’s okay; you’re moving now, and this means progress. You’ll get to your destination; probably sooner than you realize!
Believe the Best
“Rejoice and be glad”
Optimism, hope, a positive attitude. And why not? Divine power, made perfect in weakness, puts a smile on your face. No problem is bigger than God! Celebrate your creative breakthrough before it’s accomplished.
Face Your Fears
“In it”
Don’t drop your pen. Stick with the drawing board. Keep your computer on a little while longer. Don’t let emptiness dishearten you. The blank sheet isn’t your problem; it’s the way forward!
Jesus lived this way. He called unstable Simon a Rock. He insisted that a deceased girl was merely napping and He raised her from the dead. He challenged Philip to pay the bill to feed thousands. His disciple wavered, but Christ came through!
Why does Jesus do this? Because God calls things that are not as though they were!
Follow Jesus and He will summon you to create, initiate, invent. Bring something into the world that doesn’t yet exist but should. People need Christ; they need Him expressed through your God-given ingenuity.
Don’t let an empty canvas threaten you. It’s the Lord’s gift to you, an opportunity for you to change your corner of the world for the better. Take up the challenge. It’s your turn.
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