Day 31

For years, I thought the only creative part of my 'paid work' involved writing and preaching sermons. I put so much energy into my efforts to imagine, craft, edit, prepare and deliver the sermon. Thinking that the amount and quality of my work up to, and on Sunday morning would determine the outcome in people's lives.

I was 33% correct (if that.) I had not accounted for the creativity, imagination and effort of the listener on Sunday morning. Neither had I considered what they would do the rest of the week (or the rest of their lives) with what they'd heard.

I now know that the third Person at work in the equation was/is the one whose creativity cannot be measured in hours our words. It is the mysterious work of the Spirit, the breath of God that carries the words of my mouth to the ears of the hearers. This same Spirit is the one who breathes on the embers within our souls until they are an impassioned blaze.

As I reflect on my 'paid work' now, I believe I am one of the partners in the co-creative work of ministry. Preaching is just one of the activities where I am invited to bring my creativity. There are others that have emerged over time: one I refer to as being the spiritual leader of spiritual leaders. A third may seem a less likely place for creativity: the often wordless times of sitting with those in pain, greif or waiting for death.

I know a little more now about the creativity of my work and my vocation. If such knowledge comes with age, I may have it figured out in another 30 years.

May we each trust ourselves enough to share our creativity where we are, and may we have the patience and humility to let the Spirit of God inspire us to even greater creativity in the future.