Discussed in this episode:
The artist, image of God the Creator
"1. None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked upon the work of his hands." (Saint Pope John Paul 11, 1999)
A direct link to Genesis.
The process of how God created all creatures from the heavens to the earth in five days and on the sixth day, the most ingenious of His creation, He created Man.
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Gn 1:31)
Profoundly, the creator recognises that His creation is very good.
As creators, recognising that our creations are also very good because His nature is within us.
Just as on the seventh day, God rested.
The importance of reflecting on the piece of creation, flaws & all, acknowledging God's handiwork whilst recognising that indeed it is very good.
A beautiful creation can never be bad.
The transcendentals of that which is good, true & beautiful.
Expressing of oneself through our bodies which is ordered for a higher purpose, reflects back to the creator His goodness, truth and beauty.
Through His beauty, He reveals His truth and His goodness.
Two-fold nature to creativity
A two-fold nature to creativity; it is divine and it makes the divine accessible!
Spiritually, God directs the heart to soften & open and through that process reveals His love.
God's divine nature is revealed throughout the art piece, making the divine accessible.
Learning from The Father to Create like a child
Creativity is mirroring Him, taking that nature from the Father as His children.
Learning to create as He creates.
The special vocation of the artist
To keep taking what I create and offering it to God whilst exercising those gifts and talents.
In multidisciplinary mediums, expanding beyond is good for the craft.
The artistic vocation in the service of beauty
Creating anything that is beautiful.
The flow-on effect of building capacity for the benefit of the Church.
The artist and the common good
Whatever you create, whatever beauty is seen in it, it is always meant to be shared and never withheld.
Sharing is outward receptivity.
Good artwork causes you to reflect upon your purpose which leads back to the source.
The Individual as a whole
Developing as individuals whilst working for others to develop something of beauty, aesthetic.
A gift which wells up within oneself and overflows to the world.
God reveals to you, who you truly are.
Integrates those different parts of you into one, whole fully functioning creative individual.
Application- growing in the delight of creativity
-People's unconditional positive regard in your abilities
-Spending more intentional time developing a relationship with God (Book- 'Into the Deep: Diving into the life of Courageous Faith' by Lauren Gaskill)
-An Integrated Creator: which feeds the spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical needs
-Listening to Praise & Worship (Recommended Songs-'Homeward' and 'Faith is' by Benjamin Hastings)
We hope that this podcast filled your heart with grace!