A Work of Creation

I'm writing again.  Music, that is, and there ain't nothin' like it.  "Ain't" - in fact - keeps sneaking into my lyrics, which both excites and disturbs me, but somehow I really can't help it.  It's tricky like that.

I can't take credit for this.  Or this.  :)

I used to write a song every week.  Yes, four out of five were total flops, but at least that left me with one decent piece to add to my repertoire every five weeks or so.  Better one every five weeks than every five years, which is the way it's been going lately.  I wrote a few weeks ago about Edith Schaeffer's book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking, which I'm so glad to see many of you have read or are reading.  Honestly, I haven't taken the time to finish it yet (this time around), but simply revisiting and reflecting on the first few chapters has got me thinking meaningfully about art - and especially, my art - again, after a long hiatus.   

I've blamed my frustration over not having written much music lately on lack of inspiration, but the truth is that songs haven't been added to my repertoire because I have not sat down to write them, which happens to be a key ingredient.  I used to think of the arts so romantically, like any creation was an inspired gift which came quietly and easily to those who waited.  It's not.  In fact, it's work.  Even God did not merely think of what He wanted and - BAM! - it was there.  No.  Even He had to do something to create.  He spoke.  And not simply words.  He crafted beautiful poetry just to convey those words.  It was work.  We know it was work because His Word says that on the seventh day - after six long days of speaking things into creation - He rested from his work.  Creation is work.  

Which brings me to my creative endeavors this past week.  Thankfully, I've had six or seven hours this week to purposefully put into songwriting, and what has it gotten me?  Two songs.  Not platinum singles by any means, but something to work with.   If you want to be creative, don't wait for inspiration to strike you; rather, take whatever time you have, be it five minutes or five hours, and take action!  It won't come easily at first; in fact, it might be quite difficult.  But as you get your creative juices flowing, your artistic ball rolling, it'll come more naturally.  Whether you want to write a winsome song, paint a vibrant watercolor, cook a mouth-watering meal or take a vivid photograph, simply make the effort to do it.  Don't wait for that ever elusive inspiration.  Creation is work.  But it's worth it.