A Creative Life to Honour a Creative God - by Margaret

In the beginning God created.  To work, build, make beautiful things, brings us joy as we have been wonderfully made in God’s image as creators.  

I am a carpenters daughter.  I remember the joy my father had in building, creating, doing.  He loved to serve with his hands.  My mother grew up during WWII so she was a master at making beautiful things with limited resources.  She could sew, knit, cook and make laundry folding look like an art form.  She too felt that she served God, her family and her community through her varied gifts.  They lived generous, joyful, purposeful, God honouring lives, and we as children were blessed by their example.  

As a child I loved the library. I loved the colourful books filled with crafts that I could make. I remember the Christmas my parents gave me a large box jam-packed with craft supplies. The rainbow of craft paper, scissors, glue, tape, markers, and paint kept me creatively blissful for a long time!  Throughout my school schoolyears art was my favourite subject, my happy place.  Sadly I skipped home economics during high school and missed out on some important life skills due to my Women's lib phase!  I still read creative books, I own sharpies in every colour, and love to hop on the internet, Pinterest or Instagram where the inspiration is limitless! 

I have enjoyed the spectrum of crafting outlets.  I stitched many a needlepoint as a teen, as we had to be productive while watching TV?! ...and gave several girlfriends a wedding sampler for their special day.  I discovered round needles and knit Icelandic sweaters for those I love. I even made dozens ...and dozens of hand-painted baked dough teddy bear Christmas armaments that I sold through Weall and Cullen. With travel came a camera and endless beautiful images to capture.  I joined the folk art wave and fell in love with painting.  Special painted pieces became my signature gift.  When the kids were small I drove into scrapbooking, creating beautiful albums I treasure more with time, but sadly leaving me with boxes of unfinished projects.  Today I make digital books-  a lot faster!  As I reflect on my creative journey I feel that each creation was part of my love language.  It was a way of sharing a piece of me with someone else.  

Then life got busy. Rather than feeling frustrated I packed up my creative projects, one by one.  I was still creative during that time,  but it was usually for others: job, church, school, etc.  It was often rewarding, challenging, stimulating and enjoyable, especially when working with a great team. I guess that was how God intended to use me and grow me creatively for that season.  

Some say that people have a spiritual need to connect with what is essentially the most human of experiences to work with ones hands, mind and eyes to create beauty.  For me that rings true.  Expression through art or craft offers a fresh perspective on the world and our place in it.  As a Christian It is about my story, and how it fits with with God story.  I enjoy visual art, or the process of making things, often practical but always beautiful.  Or at least that is the goal. My true love is photography and painting.  Both of these make you very aware of light, of colour, balance, texture, order and the unexpected. The mystery. It heightens senses, opens eyes, and draws us in to see and experience God daily. His invitation to walk with him. His gift.  Beauty in the obvious, but also in the brokenness, and decay.  

It is interesting that the crafts movement is in revival. ‘Artistan' and ‘maker’ are words seen everywhere.  It seems the old is new again. God first created us as makers, with the ability to build, plant and harvest, sing and dance, and enjoy His creation.  In the fast pace of todays technological world, our humanity craves space to slow down, to rest, to be. To connect our soul with what we do.  So I guess that where I am at now.  I have finally finished unpacking those dusty boxes into my very own, light-filled studio.  It is supersized version of the Christmas craft box of long ago and I am already in creative bliss!  But how do I honour God through this gift.  My eyes and heart are open and wait expectantly for how God wants to use me for this new season.  How can I express my faith through my creative work and continue to grow in relationship with Him?  It is my hope that my artistic endeavours can be the bridge that leads to more connection with my neighbours and community, allowing me to live out my faith, and share God's love in new ways.  This busy, broken world is need of a place of peace, joy and healing. May this be my new gift?  

I look forward to being inspired by you ladies!  Blessings, Margaret