Creativity and Faith...

[Dan Goodwin]

What part does faith play in your creative life?

I'm not talking exclusively about a spiritual or religious faith, though for some that's a significant element of creating, and life.

Do you have faith in your own abilities to create what you hope to create?

Do you have faith that given time, and space and the right attention that your creative projects will evolve exactly as they need to?

Do you have faith that there will be a receptive audience to what you create?

Do you have faith that you will always be able to create?

Share your thoughts to these questions and any other related ideas with us here...

[Charlene Reeves]

Hi, I have read all these different thoughts on faith. They are sorta like feelings we all have them. I feel that everyone-whether they admit it consciously-has faith in something. Creativite, I feel, comes directly out of the pain of life. For me when I thought I was in control I made a heck of a mess, but when I gave up all rights to control my life I met someone who actually created me to give me love and everything good if I would just stop doubting and just relax and listen. I took the position ok I know I will make you hate me before you can find anything worthy. Then the journey turned magical in my head. Magical because something I never could imagine happened to me. I have learned to open up to a sweet sweet spirit and even if my family dislikes me, even if the world hates me I know that if I do everything for him then it doesn't matter who on this earth does anything or says anything against me God will defend me and make things right. So I have the mind of Christ and look at him when I look at my self worth. I feel loved so I can create anything my Father will say, "Well done my child", and this makes me feel more loved and approved of so for him I create. Cause he gave me a clear mind with a clean heart full of love.

[Dan Goodwin]

Control is a big issue for many. Giving up control, realising simply that we can't influence everything that happens to us, only how we react and respond, is a very important lesson. One I'm often back in school relearning! I think possibly the calmest, most together people in the world are those who have mastered letting go, accepting, being themselves and making the most of what they have, without frantically trying to please others or change what they can't change.

[Charlene Reeves]

My life philosophy. I try to, not perfectly, live it to the best of my ability. When I can't I catch myself and remember I can't control my own daily life alone so how can I infuence others if the don't want. So I know who can and I think I'll let Him.

[Dan Goodwin]

That strength of faith must certainly be very reassuring Charlene.

[Charlene Reeves]

My faith is strong, but also failing humanly as does all who try to live faithfully

[Dan Goodwin]

Yes I understand. Accepting our failings, trying to do the best we can, and forgiving ourselves, giving ourselves a break, are all important, and usually easier to talk about than do.

[Chris Dunmire]

Dan,

What an interesting question! For me, spirituality (inward, "fruitages" speaking) and creativity are intertwined in a whole bundle of things including faith. Confidence, self-worth, meaning, and purpose are also connected to my concept of faith.

I continue to test the theory that "we are what we believe we are, and we do what we think we can do," in the realm of creativity and have seen my own thinking and believing coupled with earnest effort, practice, mistake making, and perseverance (action) yield some amazing things that years ago I was faith-less in.

We build upon the ideas of others. We learn from the knowledge of the ages. We gleen insight from others' experiences. We create faith by testing our own mettle and pushing our limits and seeing the results of our hard work.

As long my heart beats, I will create. Creations come in many forms: artistically, joyfully, lovingly.

Chris