Close Encounters of the Human Kind

Newtown Arts Festival 2012
Newtown, CT

"So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be..." Romans 12: 5-6 The Message

You stepped right up underneath my tent and touched my dream. You picked up my words and thumbed through the pictures.  At first I thought I was only sharing my passion with you, but you surprised me. As your eyes sparkled, your lips curled and your tongues unfurled those hidden dreams, you shared your hearts with me. I'm richer for it.

Listening intently, I studied your faces - drawn with familiar lines and yet uniquely different - and I saw glory all around you, in you and through you; the shimmering glory of your Creator. Your stories wove through predictable turns but never failed a surprising twist or two; twists that make you, you. You proved once again, that everyone loves a good story and everyone has a story worth telling.

So what's stopping you? Fear that no one really wants to hear? Assumptions that your dreams aren't worth pursuing? Doubts that your work might be rejected, laughable, or just not good enough?

Writer, Jeff Goins challenged us in his newsletter last week. Speaking of creativity he said:

"The act of creating things (anything, really) is all about motion...It means you show up, do your work, and quit whining about whether or not it might be terrible.

"Because you're killing your art...you're failing to ask ONE crucial question:

What if you were amazing?

"What if this were the best thing the world has ever seen? What if instead of it sucking, it blew people's minds? If you've put in the hours and done the work, isn't that equally possible? I'm not telling you to get all puffed up, but don't sell yourself short."

And here's the key:
"You were put on this earth to do meaningful work. Work that could change people's lives. I don't care if you're a lawyer or a lemonade stand operator (in which case, you're probably seven years old); you have a purpose. And that purpose requires you to use some creative gift to bring light and life into this world. I believe it. Do you?"

Well do you?   Paul says it this way:

"So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t" (Romans 12: 5-6 The Message).

We're all made for close encounters of the human kind because when we walk away from seclusion and into community, we share, we encourage, we stretch, and we help one another grow into who God intended us to be.   What do you think your purpose is? What's your part in God's story? What fears hold you back? What propels you forward?