Breaking Out of the Mold

I have this intense desire within me to do things differently.

Maybe it's because I so easily feel trapped in daily routine, but I feel a deep need to do things in a way that will stand out and really make a difference to people. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but if I develop any kind of a routine... even with something that's really meaningful (i.e. praying)... it's not long before it seems to completely lose its impact. I have to constantly change things up to keep them fresh and alive. I'm sure it can be traced back to some tragic lack of discipline or maturity, but it's the way I am and I deal with it the way I know how... changing things up.

It affects every area of my life... work, church, home. I want to have life-impacting experiences. There is nothing more stifling to me than the thought of having to duplicate something someone else has already done. "There's no sense in reinventing the wheel" is probably the quote I detest more than any other in the world. Let's take a look at that wheel! Maybe we have yet to invent the BEST wheel! Or better yet, maybe we need to customize each and every wheel to have the greatest impact for each situation we encounter in life.

I have nothing against doing things the same as someone else if that's how it winds up. But never let it be because I've purposely duplicated them!! If I set about creating something that winds up to be similar to the way someone else has done it, then it just means we agree it's the best way to do it! But if I duplicate them without even trying to use my God-given imagination and creativity, there's a good chance I've completely missed the impact God meant for me to have in the moment.

One of the things I love and admire the most about God is His infinite creativity. For every person, every personality, every situation there is a MULTITUDE of ways to do things. What works amazingly well for one group of people could bomb for another group. Art is not just painting and sculpting and creating music. I believe the greatest artists in the world are the ones who can look at a group of people and know how to deeply touch them, inspire them, motivate them, encourage them. I believe it takes a special eye to be able to see how to bring the best out of people, how to cultivate the giftings that have been planted within them. That's the artist I want to be. I want to be able to inspire people to be all, try all, and hope for all God has for them.

I guess my desire is to tap into God's creativity. In my work, the way I care for my clients... I want to not only find creative ideas for them, but I want to present those ideas in creative ways. I want them to feel they've been treated special. I want their encounters with me to be an EXPERIENCE that leaves them with a feeling of hope and vision.

In church, I want to tap into God's creativity for interacting with our small group, the young couples, the kids in the nursery... even the people we talk to in passing. I want to see what He sees when it comes to the best way to impact their lives. I want to help them all experience something new and exciting, something beyond their daily routines. Something that stands out, and inspires them to use their giftings for great things.

And at home, I want to always be on the lookout for creative ways to make my family feel special and my home feel warm and inviting. I know the things that make Leonard, Jenelle, Rachel, and Ellie feel special are all different because their personalities are so different! But I also know that for as many times as I've done things to show them they're special to me, there are still infinitely more ways I can make them feel even more special in the future.

God, your creativity is so far beyond my comprehension. But this is my heartfelt prayer.... Bring it on.... Let the creative juices flow!