The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

Psalm 19:1-2

One of the books on my to-read list has been “Called To Create” by Jordan Raynor.  I got it for my birthday in May and just finished it last week.  I love this book because it’s not simply about the usual suspects when you think about creativity: artists, musicians, poets, etc…  It is a book that focuses on a wider view of creativity that starts at the source: God.  

God is the ultimate artist and creative genius in our world.  If you don’t believe me just look out your window at the variations of plants, animals, and cloud shapes that make up the world we live in, look at the amazing detail of your eye in a mirror, or even the beautiful colors, shapes, and sizes that human beings come in.  God has crafted something truly breathtaking with each one of us and the world we live in!

Jordan builds his book from that starting point and looks at how every endeavor we set out to accomplish can be viewed from a creative lens.  Whether that is running and operating a restaurant chain, composing a piece of music, being an entrepreneur, owning a photography business, or building a clothing company.  Anything we set out to do can become an act of creativity because we are creating something for other people to purchase, enjoy, witness, or use.  

One such creative work that Jordan narrows in on is the hit Broadway musical Hamilton.  This rap-opera focuses on Alexander Hamilton: his life, work, struggles, and contributions to the American dream before, during, and after the Revolutionary War.  In the middle of the musical there is a song that has a line that says “Why do you write like you’re running out of time, write day and night like you’re running out of time?”  

In response to this song Raynor says “And Because I know I have been called to create, I will write, work, and create like I am running our time today, so that I don’t look back with regrets wishing I had spent more time working to reveal God’s character and love others.”

I love that.  And as I continue to create in all aspects of my life I want to do so as if I am running out of time.  Not time for myself and what I can gain, but out of time to tell and show others the love of God.  God’s love is for everyone, and I have to constantly be diligent to represent Him in my creating.

So today as we create may we do so as if we are running out of time.  And may we look for every opportunity to use our creations to bring people closer to God.

What are you creating?

How can your creation show people the love of God?

What creations have brought you closer to God?