So the title is completely irrelevant to what I'm planning to write about, but then -- hey, what else is new, eh? Though, thinking truly is a dangerous thing (and I did put some thought into this post) and my mum's chocolate cake is miraculous (given that I just had a piece...) but other than those two little bits of not so coincidental commonalities between the title and reality, it is irrelevant.
Lately I've been thinking a wee bit about creativity, trying to decide what it is, precisely. I have come to the conclusion, that there is no real conclusion to find, so I'm just gonna share my brief and slightly unorganized thoughts on this for now.
Creativity is a concept, it would seem, that is understood by most -- if not all -- people, yet I don' know that anyone could give a very strong definition of it. Webster calls creativity: "the ability to create meaningful new forms, interpretations, etc.; originality". Personally, I don't think that's a very good definition (but then, maybe I'm just being picky). If I had to define creativity (which I don't, but for the sake of keeping this thing moving along a wee bit faster than a snail stuck in molases, I'll pretend that I do, so please bear with me), I would say that it's the ability to shape unique, original things from the world around us. Though, my definition seems to hardly be any better than Webster's is.
When I stop to think about it, though, creativity is more of an abstract concept/idea than a thing to be crudely defined by pen and paper (though I treasure pen and paper dearly). Creativity is an attribute of God and was given to man when God breathed Himself into Adam. Being made in the image of the Creator, people seem to instinctively understand what creativity is, without having it defined for them.
Yet, although it is an attribute that all people have in some form or another (I am convinced), some seem to be more creative than others are. These people are generally recognized as artists of one kind or another: composers, painters, architects, sculptors, authors, weavers, dancers, singers...the list goes on and on. All of these people are creative in one way or another. All of these people have traditionally held esteemed places in many of the world's societies, becuase people respect creativity in one another (and rightfully so, for it is a unique enough gift).
The question remains unanswered, though. What is creativity? Is it a characteristic of God? -certainly. Is it a gift to man? -undoubtably. But, it is more than either of those.
It would appear to me that creativity is man's attempt to echo his Creator. It is his attempt to find what was lost in Eden -- a connection with God (and what better way to connect with the Creator than to imitate Him?) Creativity is man's attempt to understand life and beauty, and to find both of those in a fallen, broken, and hurting world.
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