Creativity and Identity
Sue Beckman
Where does our creativity come from? Did I inherit this creative nature of mine? For myself, I wondered most of my life. You see, I was adopted and knew nothing of my birth parents. My dad was the creative person in the home where I grew up. He played trumpet and liked to sing. My mom enjoyed listening to music and watching movies. She could appreciate the arts.
My adoptive family WAS my family. I knew nothing else. I was accepted, loved, and cherished as a person. My three sisters were also adopted, and I had two foster brothers. We all were nurtured and loved in the same way.
As an adult in my 60s, I wanted to know where I came from, so I took a DNA test. I found out I was Swedish primarily, with some Irish, Scottish, English, and French in me. This was all well and good. But where did I get my creative side? I found out it was from my birth father's side, as he was a singer, as am I. My half-sister on my paternal side was in theater, and so was I. So, I found out it was from my paternal side.
As believers in Christ, our creativity is derived from our Father in Heaven. He created the heavens and the earth! In Genesis 1:1-3 it says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, Now the earth was formless and empty, (void) darkness was over the surface of the deep, and Spirit of God was hovering (brooding) over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light."
Now, that's creativity! God, being who he is, had a thought. 'Oh, I want to create something.' So, within this void, this nothingness, he had an idea and brooded over it like a hen broods when sitting on her eggs, waiting for them to hatch. If you continue reading Chapter One of Genesis, you will see the rest of creation become real.
We have the same DNA that continuously wants to create – something. The saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," is true. It is in all human beings whether we acknowledge it or not.Now, that's creativity! God, being who he is, had a thought. 'Oh, I want to create something.' So, within this void, this nothingness, he had an idea and brooded over it like a hen broods when sitting on her eggs, waiting for them to hatch. If you continue reading Chapter One of Genesis, you will see the rest of creation become real.
We have the same DNA that continuously wants to create – something. The saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," is true. It is in all human beings whether we acknowledge it or not.Our identity comes from our parents and the world. People may say, "Oh, isn't she cute? Oh, she can sing like a bird. Oh, she can't dance or paint. Oh, she doesn't have the math gene." However, as believers, our true identity – who we are in God's mind- is quite different from what the world says we are.
I like what the Apostle Paul says about our identity in Christ Jesus in Ephesians.
"We have become his poetry, a created people that will fulfill the destiny He has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it." Ephesians 2:10 (The Passion Translation)
There are so many scriptures that speak of our identity. "Our completeness is now found in him.” "We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world…" “But you are God’s chosen treasure-priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones.”
Romans 8:17 says, “And since we are his true children, we qualify to share all his treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God himself. And since we are joined to Christ, we also inherit all that he is and all that he has. We will experience being co-glorified with him provided that we accept his sufferings as their own.” Marvelous! We are “true children” of God. We have an inheritance that is nothing like what we inherit on earth. It’s better.
So, look at yourself. Our identity comes from our Heavenly Father, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. We have his DNA in us. With that DNA in us, we also co-create with him daily.
Think about it. When you do a craft with kids or just for yourself, you are co-creating with the Creator of us all. When you sing a little ditty that you made up because it just came to you, you are co-creating. When you cook, garden, work on a car, or build something, you co-create with Father God.
You can also co-create and make something new while sitting with Father God and dreaming with him. One of the most marvelous things one can do is brood over a dream.
I brooded for five months with Father God about a choir. I missed singing in a choir. Father asked me to dream with him. He also encouraged me to dream BIG. So, I sat with that. I had to get over some insecurities I had while spending the time dreaming. In the end, I started a choir at the church we are currently attending in our small town. They hadn’t had a choir in about 10 years. When we performed our first piece during the service, the congregation loved it. They were quite encouraging to the choir members and me. The choir came from dreaming, brooding, and knowing that I am a child of the Most High God who created everything.
Remember that you are “God’s chosen treasure,” and he loves each of you. He wants the best for you, but you must also give your best to him. As we do, “we will experience being co-glorified with him provided that we accept his sufferings” as you own.
As you reflect on your identity, take time and have a good conversation with God. Begin dreaming – imagining. What dreams do you have? Write those dreams down. Talk with him about those dreams. Take time to listen to his response. Can you begin to see them come to fruition? Allow yourself to brood over these dreams. It may take time; it may come to pass quickly. However, nothing will happen if you don’t dream. Make the decision to take a step into that dream to make it a reality.