Materials needed: pen or pencil and paper; bible; music to listen to or an image or candle to gaze upon; note paper; and envelopes
Be still and thankful
Begin by becoming still to sense God’s presence. After a few moments, read Psalm 139. After the reading, take a moment to thank God for how special you are in his eyes.
Who are the artists in your life?
Next, ask God to reveal to you the names of the “artists” in your life: people you know who live with purpose, intent, enthusiasm, and commitment. These are people who create something beautiful and new without necessarily being talented in any of the fine arts. You may want to listen to quiet classical or spiritual music or gaze upon an image of Jesus or a lighted candle as you carefully review all the people in your life.
Describing your artists
Once you have compiled a list (and don’t be concerned if you can only think of one or two people), take a piece of paper and write the first person’s name at the top of the page. List words and phrases that describe what this person creates (for example, my grandmother kept a picture-perfect vegetable garden and used the vegetables to cook sauces; my father built me a dollhouse when I was little, etc.). Start a page for each person that was revealed to you during your prayer time.
Tell your artists how you feel about them …
Once you have completed your pages, go back and write something about how that person has influenced or inspired you. What was it about what they created that made it so memorable and dear to you? Take a moment to thank God for that person and what they gave to you. Then, hand write and address a note to that person or persons, thanking them for what they do and who they are. If the person is no longer alive, keep the note as a memento of that person or send it to that person’s children.
Now, take a clean sheet and put your name at the top. Can you think of anything you have created that has impacted someone? What did you create and what was its impact? Do not be concerned if you cannot think of anything creative that you have done—there will be other exercises in this chapter that will help you to discover your special creative gifts.
… and then tell God.
End your prayer by taking a note card and writing it to God, thanking him for creating you and making you his special child.
copyright 2015 Susan W. Bailey;
from Chapter 5 of River of Grace: Creative Passages Through Difficult Times,
published by Ave Maria Press
Be as One 