Creativity and Rest

I've been thinking about both creativity and rest for some time, especially since reading Alexandra Kuykendall's book Loving My Actual Life last year, in which Alex makes the case for, among other things, a life with more creating and more resting. (I posted a review here.)

This morning, when I opened the IF: Gathering App on my phone while getting ready for work so I could continue with the Enjoying Jesus study I'm currently doing about spiritual disciplines, creativity and rest came together again for me in the image that went along with today's reading.

I almost had to catch my breathe as I felt (again) the rightness of my desire, as a daughter of God, to be more like Him by both creating and resting.

I long for more time spent both creating and resting — and while I've yet to figure out exactly how to actually make that happen (although The 100 Day Project should help), I will continue longing.

Saying No

I read an interesting scripture this morning in my daily devotional.

This year I'm reading from Shauna Niequist's Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are every morning as part of my efforts in saying Yes to more time in God's Word. (The subtitle of the book also just seemed appropriate for The Year of Yes.)

By the way, when I decided that I wanted to do that, I told my husband about my intention. His response was skepticism that I could actually do something every day for a whole year — and being the rebel¹ that I am, he was probably right. But, being the rebel that I am, because he said I couldn't do it, I've been very successful in this endeavor!

Anyway, I read an interesting scripture this morning in my daily devotional.

"I have the right to do anything," you say — but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything" — but not everything is constructive.

— 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)

Shauna talked about cooking and recipes — about moving "outside of established rules and expectations" [page 315]. But, being the rebel that I am, that wasn't the lesson I needed.

What I heard in this verse of scripture was my rebellious nature asserting that I can do whatever I want — with God's gentle reminder that my Yeses ought to be mindful, that they need to be intentional, and that I have to set priorities. Sometimes, maybe frequently, saying Yes means saying No.

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¹This year I've embraced the rebel label of Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies Framework. As she describes that tendency, "Rebels resist all expectations, outer and inner alike. They act from a sense of choice, from freedom. Rebels wake up and think, 'What do I want to do today?' They resist control, even self-control, and enjoy flouting rules and expectations. They sometimes frustrate others — and even themselves — because they resist any expectation, even one that’s self-imposed."

Loving My Actual LifeBringing the Creativity

I'd never heard of Alexandra Kuykendall when Loving My Actual Life hit my radar screen several weeks ago via Instagram - but I now feel like Alex is a friend!

My One Little Word for 2016 is Yes - and from the moment I saw the cover of this book, I knew that it contained something I needed as I continue to explore that word this year. I was so right!

In the seventh month of her "experiment of relishing the goodness that is here and present" [page 11], Alex specifically addresses one of the concepts behind my decision to choose the word Yes as 2016's word — that is, my need to create. Sometimes my day-to-day life as an accountant is about as creative as the stereotype would suggest. And yet I feel the pull both to prioritize my existing creative outlets and to expand my horizons.

Alex explained this pull by quoting Emily P. Freeman's book A Million Little Ways (which, not so coincidentally, I purchased several months ago):

The first thing we know about God is He made art. What is the first thing we know about people? We were made in the image of God.

As Alex says, "Creativity is woven into the fabric of who we are. ... We were made to create!" [Pages 142 and 144].

I could feel the importance of these statements as I read - but what sunk deep into my heart was this later passage:

I am not a fan of the phase philosophy ... That this is just a phase or a season and there will be time for (fill in the blank) later. Because the truth is, we don't know that there will be a later. ... I can do my best to make plans, but truly, if I was made to do something I must figure out a way to do that something now, even if a little at a time [pages 194-195].

So. What do I do with this truth?

As Alex expressed her own doubts about whether she really should prioritize creative time, she referenced a book that (again, not so coincidentally) I read earlier this year — 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam. A primary take-away of that book, as Alex summarizes it, is this:

It's about making the most of our downtime when we have it. Either to be intentional about a creative pursuit or letting our minds wander instead of inputting the mindless junk food we tend to feast on [page 150].

Yes! To quote Alex: "I'm feeling inspired to be a little more intentional here" [page 150]. While I long to initiate an epic experiment in loving my own actual life — and one day (soon) I will — today I have got to start where I am, I have got to start with one small change.

Beginning now, once or twice each week I will schedule time (even if it's just a little time) for writing or photography or Bible journaling. Spending less time on social media will help make this possible. Those little bits of time will add up!

This post is linked up over at Alexandra Kuykendall's blog along with others talking about loving their actual lives through small changes.

Quote of the Day

"You don't need more time ...
you just need to decide."

~Seth Godin

Thinking about Priorities

Today in the women's meeting at church, the new organization president, Brittany, talked about priorities and about putting "first things first." She said it's really easy - as we all know - to get caught up in the daily tasks of life and to neglect some of the things that really matter.

I find time management to be an interesting concept. What we do with our time illustrates what we truly value. I know that no one can do everything - but I am certain that each of us makes time for the things that really matter to us. On a very basic level, we make time to shower, to eat, and to sleep (even if we don't eat as well or sleep as much as we ought to). Those things are obviously priorities to us, so we make time for them. We simply can't wait until we find time for the things that are truly important.

Here are some ideas about priorities that I like and want to consider further:

• "Good, Better, Best" by Dallin H. Oaks (October 2007).


• "Put First Things First," which one of Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." (I particularly like the concepts of "urgent" vs. "important" and "Quadrant II Time Management.")


• "Focus and Priorities" by Dallin H. Oaks (April 2001).


• "Seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33).

By the way, Brittany ended her lesson with one of my favorite scriptures, one that's actually part of my Guiding Principles:

"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a [wo]man should run faster than [s]he has strength. And again, it is expedient that [s]he should be diligent, that thereby [s]he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order" (Mosiah 4:27).