Creativity and Spirit

June 24, 2024 - #mondaymoment #spirit #art

Happy Monday, my friends! Pastors are often asked how we manage to come up with sermons and messages week after week. I hope there are at least a few pastors out there who receive divine inspiration each week or who work so far ahead that they have sermons planned and even written weeks or even months before they have to be delivered, in reality most of us draw our messages out of a combination of the thoughts rolling around in our brains, insights we’ve had while reading, and the otherwise normal incidents and actions of our daily lives—which is why pastor’s kids, nephews, and nieces often become sermon illustrations. I love being creative, but I admit to staring blankly at my computer screen more times than I can count for everything from Monday Moments to messages to op-eds and essays.

Summers have always been the time when I feel the most creative. I go to arts festivals, I speak to artists, I explore classes or opportunities to try new forms of art, and, if I have the money, I purchase a new piece or two for my collection of engravings and etchings. While I find it hard to sit outside and write, I often draw inspiration from the world around me and the sometimes-mundane parts of life. One part of the summer I love is the creative energy that seems to flow through the air particularly during Pride Month. If the Queer community is known for its influence in any one field, it’s the arts. From Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorpe to Michael Kors and Calvin Klein to Kate McKinnon and Cynthia Nixon to James Baldwin and William Burroughs to Billy Porter and Jim Parsons to name only a very few across only some artistic areas, many of which have been defined by the contributions of LGBTQIA+ people. Imagine if we could say that about the church and faith in general; that instead of being marginalized and excluded for generations, Queer people had been openly included in the church as they have been in other fields. Imagine if the church was safe enough for LGBTQIA+ people to have openly put their stamp on it as their authentic selves. That said, the Queer community—historically and as we know it today—has always been involved in the creative work of the church. We find Queer people throughout the Bible and in many positions of the church from artists to popes and everyone in between. Many of the great Renaissance artists are thought to have been Queer, in fact the “white Jesus” image was first painted by Leonardo da Vinci based on his lover.

Whenever we discuss creativity, we must remember that every person is creative in their own way. Yes, only some people will ever exhibit or sell their art, only some people will publish a book and only some of those authors will achieve significant commercial success. However, everyone can create and the only people who get to define “art” are the artist and the viewer, reader, and listener. Albert Einstein once said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Indeed, even our ideas of what art is often are impacted by our exposure to art which is why the best authors often are the most prolific readers. Before I was 13, I was introduced to a now permanent exhibit at the Columbus Museum of Art titled “Spirit” by the conceptual artist Mel Chin. It completely changed my outlook on art.

“Spirit,” (1994) Mel Chin, Permanent Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art.

Photo: https://melchin.org/oeuvre/spirit

Where do you feel most creative? How have you or others been creative in the context of church or community?

Let us pray: God, thank you for making us creative and giving us the beauty of your many creations from which to draw inspiration. However they had to present, you have always been with the many LGBTQIA+ artists, musicians, designers, actors, writers, and other creatives throughout history. Continue to guide all people to be creative, even if they don’t consider themselves creative. We ask this of you, God the creator. Amen.

Blessings on your weeks, my friends! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Faithfully,

Ben