Practice makes perfect

 Over lockdown I started making farms. 

  

I saw someone who had made something similar on some website or newsfeed and thought ' I could probably do that'.   And then Sam came home from Uni with a large square of fake grass he had acquired somehow and I decided to give it a go.  Whilst it all looked as though it should be pretty straightforward it has actually taken me a long time to work out exactly how to make them well.  Trial and error - that's how we learn how to do things better isnt it?  For the most part. 

Creativity starts with an idea.  I find ideas the most difficult thing.  Im really not very good at being original and I always marvel at people who are ( although Ecclesiastes would tell us that there is nothing new under the sun)  Then we need the wherewithall to get the project up and running.  We need materials and time and a suitable space.  We might need other people, collaborators.  We might need a certain sort of light or climate or surroundings   It all depends what we are creating   But working out what we need is all part of the process of learning-  part of the trial and error.

Once we have got the idea and the means we then need the talent.   Talent is only one part of the creative package but I dont subscribe to the idea that we are born with talent and it cant be learned.  We can learn anything if we are exposed to it for long enough - especially at a young age.  I was taught to play the piano at 4.  I didnt start painting till I was 40.   Practicing both has made me good enough at both to bring lots of pleasure into my life and some into the lives of others.  If Id been taught to cook or knit or sculpt or run marathons at a young age Id probably be reasonably good at those things .  But I wasnt.  So Im not. 

Spiritual application?   God is massively creative so I think that, as we are made in His image, we are all creative.  When we invite Jesus to take control of our lives He unleashes His creative ways of thinking and seeing and doing into us.  I think He wants us to be spiritually creative as well as practically creative.   He loves it when we craft and paint and sculpt and compose and dance and act - think of how much of the history of art and music and theatre is grounded in the church and people of faith.  But I think He also wants us to be spiritually creative.  He wants us to sing spiritual songs ( col 3:16) and pray creative prayers.  He wants us to approach His word with our imaginations as well as our intellect.   Praying in tongues is one of the most creative things we can do.  But in order for us to do these things we need the right tools, the right setting and atmosphere, and permission to practice and make mistakes. 

Its easy to never try anything new and its hard to put ourselves out there and have a go.  Its risky.  But its also great when it works.  When you give a message in tongues and someone interprets it.  When you think you might have a word for someone and give it and it makes sense to them.  When you pray a brave prayer and it is answered.  Raise your hands in worship when nobody else is doing it.  Sing a harmony.  Wave a flag.  Dance.  Preach. Lead. ....    there are endless ways our creative God will use us if we just say YES.  And lets remember to be super kind to those who are brave enough to say yes and have a go.  They might not be perfect.  They might be tentative and awkward and unpolished.   But they might just have a kernel of what God is really doing or saying.  Practice makes perfect. And God is in the business of making us all perfect.