“In the beginning, God created…”
I love those words. I don’t love them for the reason you might think, though. A lot has been said about those five words, and I think a lot will continue to be said. Unfortunately, much of what has and will be said is dedicated to argument. I suppose there is a place for that. But that is not where I will be focusing. My reason for loving those words is very different. More on that later.
What do you think it means to be human? Yes, I’m asking you. You. The person reading this right now. What does it mean? Truth be told, it is a bit of an unfair question, because there are a lot of answers. And to pick just one would probably mean ignoring some others, which would be an injustice.
But I believe there is one element of what makes a human a human that often gets ignored. We talk a lot about scientific distinctions and philosophical reasons, but really I think it is very simple: humans are creative. Not just some humans — all humans. Humanity is creative.
“But wait,” you might say. “I don’t have any artistic talents at all. I’m bad at drawing and painting and can hardly pick out any tune on a piano.”
If that is you, I will tell you two things.
First, you’re probably wrong about your level of artistic talent. Average, ordinary people routinely sell themselves short when it comes to art, which is a shame.
Second, whether you do or don’t have a creative nature has nothing to do with whether you have developed your creative skill sets. You’re creative regardless. And I think I can prove it.
Have you ever doodled in the corner of your page during the moments in class when it’s hard to focus? Have you ever written a poem in your notes app that you’ll never show anyone, ever? Have you cooked? Have you built a fort? Made a playlist? Taken a photo?
The list could go on. There are many more questions I could ask but I think you get the point. You probably answered yes to at least one of them, and even if not, I know you would eventually answer yes if I was able to keep asking as many as I’d like.
The point is, all of us are imprinted with something. Something that makes us want to draw pictures when we’re little. Something that makes us want to build a new deck onto the house, even if it’s not really necessary. Something that makes us want to write notes to our friends.
Human life is full to the brim with meaning. It overflows. And out of that overflow, we create. We want to and we have to. There are many possible explanations for this, but the one that makes the most sense to me is just that normally, people take after their parents. Kids are imprinted with the nature of their father and mother.
“In the beginning, God created…”
I love these words, not because of what they can offer me in terms of building a scientific argument, but because of what I believe they reveal about the nature of God. He creates. It is in His nature. He is the creator. And you and I carry the imprint of His character.
Maybe you don’t consider yourself creative. Maybe you think “analytical” is a better word to describe you, or maybe you just have never connected to the arts. I don’t think any of that matters. You are imprinted with the desire and ability to create, it just may look different from what society generally deems “creative.”
To be honest, though, I don’t much care about society’s definition of worthy creations. I care more about what I know takes place within me when I follow in the footsteps of my Father and make something. Maybe you don’t relate. That’s okay. I still believe it’s in you. It’s in all of us.
I’m not proud of most of the art I make. Usually, I second guess it until I hate it, and then I start a new project. That is because I’m imperfect, and I always will be. The things I create are imperfect too. But I still want to make things.
My point is this: the fact that I want to make things says something about my nature. The fact that you want to create (though society might make you feel that your desire to create doesn’t really count) says something about your nature as well.
In a way, I find this reality to be extremely empowering. Not in the sense that I think believing in God will make me a better creative. Rather, my faith tells me that God is loving, and it also tells me that God is powerful and creative — the greatest creative to ever exist, really. If you’re wondering how these facts alone feel empowering to me, I get that. Those are just tenets of theology.
What hits me is that my faith also tells me that God created me. And in a confusing, limited sense, made me like Him. Part of that likeness to Him, I believe, is the urge to make things after my own likeness. Creativity is one of the imprints of the Maker.
“In the beginning, God created…”
These words might not be special or thought-provoking to you. But what I do hope provokes some thought in you is this: He made you like Him. And He saw that it was good.
