“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not.” – Ira Glass
HT: Echo Hub
Don’t forget what this weekend is all about. The crucified and risen Jesus. Death doesn’t win; Jesus does.
I’ve recently come across some of the work of Erik Wahl. He is an artist, which doesn’t say much considering he makes it his goal to make sure we realize that we are all artists. More specifically he is a graffiti style artist and a speaker. The way he mixes his painting presentations as a part of his business presentations is incredible, even in the short clips that are available on his website. He also has a book coming out this summer called Unthink that I am making sure to keep on my radar. If you haven’t heard of him yet, check him out.
Over the past year I have found myself more and more interested in creativity and how being an artist influences my ministry whether it be through design, preaching, or simply the way I approach a problem. As I’ve explored what some people might call being a “creative” type, I’ve spent some time on an incredible website called 99U. If you are interested in idea generation, managing creative people, or executing ideas this website is invaluable. I recently watched this video which I loved because I so often find myself jumping from idea to idea, which Scott Belsky speaks against in this clip.
This week our creative team decided to get together and do some Christmas planning. And yes, I do realize it’s July. For a long time, the idea of being far enough out in our planning to have some brainstorming for Christmas done several months in advance was something that seemed like it would be valuable but not a reality. This week it happened. We shifted our mindsets from swimming, beaches, and sunburns to Christmas sweaters, carols, and cookies.
This video is testimony to the fact that it is not difficult for us to find devices that can record high quality video in our ministries. Using 7 iPhones, Big Break Studio shot this live performance by the Desperation Band of the song “Light of Salvation.”
HT: ChurchIdeasBlog
Creativity can be a difficult task when done individually, but when done as a group this difficult task can become even more difficult. In fact, groups actually generate less creative ideas when brainstorming together than when brainstorming individually. When you are alone, you don’t have to worry about hurt feelings or the risk of sharing your idea, but when you are in a team opinions start to come in, some people aren’t good at creating, and people who suck the life out of your ideas. Creativity is much easier when we are alone, but when done properly it is much more valuable when others are involved in the process.
Over the past several months I have worked hard to discipline myself to develop 4 specific habits to improve as a writer. I do my best to write something each of the 5 work days in the week. Some of those days have been great and I have had no problem writing several drafts of posts in one day. Other days I struggle to find having anything to say. As I’ve spent more time making a discipline out of blogging, I’ve found certain rhythms that have been helpful for me as I’ve tried to improve my blogging quality and quantity.
Creativity is hard work. There are days when writing does not come from a flow of great thoughts, but instead comes from the discipline of putting words on paper each day. There are days when I stare at my white board hoping that I will have a moment of creative brilliance that will inspire me to fill it with new thoughts, illustrations, and bible passages. If you want to learn how to be creative, you need to practice being creative. It may not be complicated, but it is difficult.
These are my random thoughts on life, ministry, technology or whatever else I can't help but post about. The posts on this site are my own personal opinions. They do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Faith Lutheran Church.
