“Mom! Don’t take his picture!”
I was walking around Breckenridge, CO with my husband and 16-year-old daughter. I had one camera and my daughter had another as we captured images of the town. But my daughter whispered “Don’t!” when I stopped to photograph the painter standing near a bridge, intent on the hanging basket of multicolored flowers.
How could I not take a picture of a fellow creative, so caught up in his craft?
So many questions ran through my mind:
- What about this particular scene captured his attention?
- How long had he been painting?
- What other images filled his artist’s sketchpad?
- Did he ever doubt himself as an artist? Hesitate to put brush to canvas?
Yes, every creative act is a leap of faith. Composing a song. Directing a play. Performing ballet. Drawing a portrait or still life. And yes, writing a book. You must have faith in your unformed vision — that what you imagine is enough to help you leap … enough to begin your journey. And you need faith enough to continue when the initial creative surge wanes and you forget why you started. When you lose sight of where you’re going … when you can’t see the end goal.
Sometimes you take that leap of faith by yourself. Sometimes you leap, holding hands with others who believe in the dream with you. My leap of faith as an author is always taken with faith in God, who promises to be the stability of my times, come what may. (Isaiah 33:6) But to go from blank page to the opening sentence of a new story, I have to believe in the creative process … and leap.
In Your Words: What and/or who helps you take that leap of faith toward your creative dream?
[ctt template=”8″ link=”22Hhv” via=”yes” ]In Others\’ Words: Leap of Faith http://wp.me/p63waO-2pA #quotes #creativity[/ctt] [ctt template=”8″ link=”98R8F” via=”yes” ]\”Creativity is always a leap of faith. You\’re faced with a blank page …\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2pA #quotes #creativity[/ctt]
Comments 7
Sometimes I sneak up on people for photos. I have a shot I love of an elderly couple slowly walking a sidewalk in Madrid. Their manner spoke whole chapters of stories and still warms my heart. There is a lot more creativity around than we might notice at first glance, especially in our hurry, scurry schedules, and I’m thankful God gently nudges us and opens our eyes to it.
Author
Dee:
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who sneaks photos of other people. Yes, photographs capture glimpse of others’ lives. I never want to intrude, only honor what I see.
And photography is its own kind of creativity.
To live with regret is worse than the fear of taking a chance, so I’m always leaping in and asking what am I doing about half way across. 🙂
Author
Pat, you are one of the most courageous, creative people I know! I will follow you — leap with you — any day! 🙂
When God gives me a task, it’s sometimes hard to start because I feel like I might not do the job well. I get intimidated. But then I remember that if God asked me to do it, then He will provide the know-how and the skills along the way.
I wish I would remember that quicker during those moments of intimidation.
Author
Andrea:
Yes, if we can remember that God is with us when we start … before we start … than that step of faith is so much easier. We do not walk alone … God goes before us. He walks alongside us. He follows behind us.
“God goes before us. He walks alongside us. He follows behind us.”
Beth, I love that. God is all around us, surrounding us with His presence and love. And that Jesus lives in us too. Makes me wonder why I ever doubt anything about Him since He goes to great lengths to guide me every step of the way. Being human is hard.