A funny thing happened on the race, it seems my passion, appreciation and need for art has resurfaced in my life. This may sound funny to some of you who know me well, believing that I’ve always had a passion for art but over the last several years it has waned. That might even be part of the reason that I struggled with teaching the last few years of my career.
While on the race I’ve had time and space to create in a way that I haven’t in years. Forcing myself to be creative with limited supplies and acknowledging how creating is necessary to my everyday life. Drawing, sitting in quiet and using my hands to create something is a fundamental part of who I am and it’s one of the best tools I have to calm my brain and communicate with God, the ultimate creator.
In addition to practicing art in my own time for my own pleasure or as worship I’ve also realized that it’s a very tangible gift that I can share on this journey. Not only is it a gift that I can share, but I also have the ability to teach others how to use it to connect with God themselves.
The first time we visited the orphanage in El Salvador I led the girls in a bible study where they used art to communicate how they viewed God. I was able to communicate with girls I had never met and who didn’t speak my language and help facilitate a very personal lesson through creativity. A couple of weeks later I was able to lead another art activity as part of a VBS activity at the orphanage. Modest as it was, it still felt more meaningful than any lesson I had taught in my 6 years as an art teacher.
My teammate encouraged me to lean into that gift and use it more. At debrief I talked to our coaches about it more and decided to take a step out of my comfort zone and start sharing the art I was doing on the race in my blog. I’m not the best artists and like so many others in their gifts I get caught up in comparing mine to others.
As I had more conversations with squad mates about my art and what I do over debrief I was excited for the opportunity to share more and encourage them over All Squad Month. So when asked if we had anything we could share with the group on a regular basis I wanted to have an open creative time with my squad family. I pitched the idea to have a time where we could come together and create and share our knowledge, I’d even teach a specific skill if anyone had one in mind. I ended up teaching a mini art class on Zentangles and how they could use patterning and mandalas to quiet there minds. I loved it! And what was better, so did those who participated.
When I signed up for the Race I was looking for a lot of things; direction, travel, time with God and clarity in my calling. Never in a million years would I have expected to be teaching art to my squad or using it in ministry. I forgot how much I enjoy creating, but more than that, how much I enjoy encouraging others in their creative gifts and abilities (because we all have them).
It makes me wonder what other gifts I haven’t been using. And excited to see and encourage my teammates in their gifts and how to use them in their own ministry. So I ask you the same thing, what gift do you have that you take for granted? That you believe is not worth sharing? I encourage you to find a way to share it with others. To teach, to speak life or to be bold in sharing. You might be surprised how your gift can bless others.
6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:6-8
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