Skip to main content

Day 10: Our Role in Creation (Briefly)

DISCLAIMER: THERE ISN'T ANYTHING MUCH WRITTEN IN THIS THAT YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW. INSTEAD OF WASTING THE NEXT 15 MINS OF YOUR LIFE, JUST GO ON WITH IT. WELL IN CASE YOU WANT TO WASTE IT ANYWAY, DO NOT READ ANYTHING IN BRACKETS OR IN RED TEXT, THAT'S A BIT OUT OF CONTEXT USUALLY MY MIND OFF RAMPING. IT WILL SAVE YOU SOME TIME TO DO MORE IMPORTANT THINGS. (SOMETIMES IT'S GENUINE LINKS TO ARTICLES WITH MORE INFO SO READ AND CLICK IT).

The air crackles with a different energy today. Yesterday, the muse seemed to have taken a vacation, leaving behind a trail of half-finished thoughts and a general sense of blah. But today? Today, is a bit more like whoa. It's like I had an overnight transformation. Which reminds me I read a very powerful verse yesterday it says, "Do not be conformed conformed to the norms of this world. But be transformed by the renewal of the mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good, and acceptable and perfect." YES! I have been transformed. Quite some interesting phrases there 'transformation', 'renewal of the mind', 'will of God'.



Let's do some justice to our previous article and really get the essence of that pure thought. Rewind back to Genesis. God, after creating the universe, before of course taking his well deserved rest. Like the ultimate manager, he delegates the role of creation to the little creators. 

The first Commandment 

God gives us dominion over the Earth, inviting us to participate in the ongoing story of creation. "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:28). 

Being fruitful can extend beyond procreation to encompass creativity, productivity, and making a positive impact on the world. This includes things like artistic expression, scientific discovery, and acts of kindness and compassion.

Now, "subdue" doesn't mean exploit. It means to cultivate, to nurture, to bring order and harmony to the chaotic wilderness. It's about working with the natural world, not against it, to create a thriving ecosystem.

Think about it:

  • The ingenuity of ancient civilizations: The Egyptians, with their intricate irrigation systems and awe-inspiring pyramids. The Romans, with their aqueducts and roads that still stand today. These weren't just feats of engineering; they were expressions of human creativity, shaping the landscape and improving the quality of life for generations. The seed within every men and women of their times flourish and their acts of being fruitful.
  • The Industrial Revolution: While it brought about its own set of challenges, the Industrial Revolution also unleashed a wave of human ingenuity. From the steam engine to the telegraph, these inventions transformed the world, connecting people and accelerating progress.

But here's the thing:

True creation isn't just about building bigger and better things in solitary for being better individuals. Lots of goal and vision boards flying around as the year is just beginning. Everyone looking out to become the best they can ever be making themselves proud. Striving to become better that everyone and having all the material things to themselves. But I want to invite you to a different way of creation one that is about using our gifts and talents to make the inner and outer world a better place. It's about:

  • Cultivating inner peace: Creativity isn't just about external expression; it's about cultivating inner peace and fulfillment. Practices like meditation, mindfulness, and spending time in nature can help us connect with our inner selves and unleash our creative potential.
  • Connecting with others: True creation often happens in collaboration. By sharing our ideas, supporting each other, and building meaningful relationships, we can achieve far more than we could ever accomplish alone. (This might just be the core message of today's article)


Actionable Steps:

  • Embrace the "Beginner's Mind": Don't be afraid to experiment, to make mistakes, to try new things. The most creative people are often those who are willing to let go of their preconceived notions and approach challenges with a sense of wonder and curiosity.
  • Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Believe in your ability to learn and grow. Embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and development.
  • Find Your Creative Outlet: Whether it's painting, writing, gardening, or simply spending time with loved ones, find activities that bring you joy and allow you to express your unique creativity.
  • Give Back: Use your talents to make a difference in the world. Volunteer your time, support local charities, or find ways to use your skills to address social and environmental issues.
So make a conscious decision to play a role in this creation stuff. And when it feels like it's meaningless or hard or not so inspiring, just appreciate that you are doing it. Remind yourself the six transformative words. 

This is what we do now.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Day 93: Peer Pressure

Let's talk about peer pressure, shall we? Not just the teenage "come on, have a ciggy behind the bike sheds" variety, but the subtle, grown-up version that's probably dictating more of your decisions than you'd care to admit. I read this book once, "Originals" by Adam Grant. Grant talks about how conformity is the enemy of originality. The moment you start fitting in, you stop standing out. There's this fascinating study that was done way back in the 1950s by a psychologist called Solomon Asch. He put people in a room and showed them lines of different lengths, then asked which lines matched. Easy peasy, right? But here's the twist, everyone else in the room was an actor instructed to give the wrong answer. And guess what happened? About 75% of participants went along with the obviously wrong answer at least once. Seventy-five percent! That's three out of four people willing to say that black is white just because everyone else is saying ...

Day 85: Spirit of Consistency

  I saw a friend's post the other day and it read "Spirit of Consistency possess me". It got me thinking... Isn't it funny how we beg supernatural forces to take control of us? We're all just walking around, hoping some external power will suddenly make us do the things we already know we should be doing. Like, imagine a world where instead of praying for money, people just prayed to actually use their gym memberships. "Dear Lord, possess me with the spirit of actually showing up to that spinning class I've been paying for since January." But here's the thing, consistency isn't some mystical force that randomly chooses its victims. It's more like that friend who always shows up to help you move house. Not particularly exciting, definitely not glamorous, but bloody reliable. The Unsexy Superpower Consistency is probably the least sexy of all the success principles. It doesn't make for good Instagram content, does it? No one's posti...

Day 83: How to stay motivated

Let's be honest for a minute. Motivation is a fickle friend. It shows up all excited on January 1st, hanging around just long enough for you to buy expensive workout gear, some nice self help books, then disappears faster than free food at an event. The Bible puts it rather poetically in Proverbs 16:9: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD determines their steps." (NIV) Which sometimes feels like divine code for: "That brilliant five-year plan you made? Adorable. Now watch this plot twist." I remember reading somewhere that Thomas Edison failed more than 10,000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb. When asked about it, he supposedly said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." And I'm thinking... mate, after attempt 9,997, did you never just look at the bulb and say, "You know what? Candles aren't that bad. Fire is quite cosy, actually." The Mythical Well of Willpower ...