I stood with my feet bare, squished into gritty sand and stared, enchanted, as I watched her. Judging by her size and stature she couldn’t have been more than four years old, but age & size didn’t seem to faze this girl. She plowed into powerful frothy tide, as if the waves and wind were hers to command. This girl didn’t have a care in the world. She was fearless. Cards on the table I get nervous when I can’t see my toes….. but this girl? It didn’t matter to her. She was on a mission, and heading out to sea didn’t seem to phase her. I started wondering who lets a kid play by herself in the ocean and that’s when I saw him, waiting for her in the waves. He was everything a Dad should be- loving, kind, attentive and of course……ready to catch her as she plunged into watery walls, and depths beyond her care. What mattered to her as she set out on an oceanic-volume of adventure before her, is that her Dad was already there. With Dad as her security she was free to play, explore and adventure because she knew…..I mean, she knew that her Dad was waiting in whatever lay ahead, to catch her, help her, and release her into life.
I’m just about to lose it…. tears are filling up my eyes as I’m sitting here typing. We don’t have to stretch too far with this one friends, because the answer is right before us, waiting in the waves.
Going deeper with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit is the chief aim of our existence. But what we do because of, and out of that relationship is how we make our mark on the world. That, my friends, is the point of why we’ve been exploring this topic for the last month. Going deeper isn’t just about us. It’s about constant communion with him, and it’s about those we are called to reach.
When we think about what a deep and rich relationship with God looks like, it has to come back to this- it’s for a purpose. First and foremost, Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is to love God. But the very nature of love is that changes everything it touches. When we know that we are deeply seen, known and loved by God, how we face the ocean before us changes. The ocean isn’t just a metaphor for work, or for life, but it’s our calling to the great unknown. We are equipped to face what lies before us because we trust the character and nature of the one who, through intimacy and communion, makes himself known to us. Being known by God and knowing him frees us to plunge, with creativity and without fear into what God is calling us to.
Almost 10 years ago, I went through the worst depression of my life. After going into counseling I was challenged to plug my heart back into God’s heart, and to get creative. It is a huge part of why I am so passionate about these topics together. When I started, I had no idea the journey that creativity would take me on, but it taught me two invaluable perspectives when it comes to all things creative:
- Being creative means you get to do exactly that: create. I want you to look at the oceanic-adventure without the thought of limiting it to drawing or canvas, because everything can be a canvas. When we step out into being creative, it honors the work of the creator within us. Whether it is baking, woodworking, molding play-doh, pouring candles, organizing your home, editing a graphic or taking any type of color to canvas the point is not perfection or striving it’s meeting in the ocean. It’s honoring God with whatever talent he has given you. It’s not just emulation but an invitation to create, locking in on our relationship with God with what we have and who we are. Creativity calls us to play, to heal, to commune, and to grow. Whatever your medium, invite God into it and watch your adventure ignite.
- Creating is an extension of communion. When we are creative, it comes out of our intimacy with God. Creating goes so much farther than just art. Being creative is hearing God’s voice, and being attentive to what he prompts you to do. It can be as simple as praying when a friend is in need, or because God laid them on your heart. It can be giving away $20, just because Jesus told you to do it. It’s dropping off soup to a sick neighbor or sending a missionary a care package. Our intimacy with God takes on a whole new depth when we listen and obey. So, take a leap, and trust his voice. Being creative is about being yielded and available to a loving Father however he wants to lead and guide you into the adventure ahead.
Before we close, I want to share a tiny caveat on this idea: You might get it right and, you might get it wrong. You’re allowed to learn, and learning takes time and practice. Take the opportunity to leap, trusting God to work it out. Sift what you discern through Godly council, God’s character and his Word (this is not a license to be crazy or an invitation to be sinful) but instead to take a leap of faith that God can and will catch you.
Your oceanic-adventure lays before you friends, and your Father is already there. Are you going to look at the waves, or get creative and look for your Father who is waiting within them for you? The invitation is yours, but adventure, intimacy, communion and creativity are calling. Take the leap friend!
Much love,
Joy