Look Anew

Lift your eyes for a moment and watch an airplane etch its way across the sky. There goes one of the great creative accomplishments of humankind. That magnificent machine was once only a vision in the minds of designers – talented people who can see the potential of an airplane in the metals, plastics, oil, and other raw materials.
This is the gift of creativity, the transformer of life’s raw materials.

In the imaginations of some people, sand at the beach makes castles. In the minds of others, sand’s silica is a building block of integrated circuits in your computer. It’s all in how you see it.

Creativity can be electrifying or joyful.Who hasn’t felt moved by the ancient cave paintings of Lascaux, France? Who hasn’t smiled at a refrigerator display of art made by little hands dipped in finger paints?

New ideas often begin in the things you pass regularly. Then one day you sense fresh possibilities calling out of familiar materials. Nothing quite surpasses the moment your mind envisions divine potential in the raw materials in your world.

Moses’ famous encounter with the burning bush tells this story. “Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘…remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’” (Ex 3:3-5)

Soon, Moses would begin the work that set the Israelites free from bondage, but first he was being called upon to see familiar circumstances in a new way.

Jesus also showed us to see the familiar in a fresh way. He said, “Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest?’ But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.” (Jn 4:35)

What are the raw materials of your own life — your background, your family, your work, your health, your talents, your physical appearance, your financial situation, or the injustices that plague you? 

Consider them not to be obstacles, but transfigurations waiting to happen. Heed the call, open your thoughts to fresh possibilities. Choose the joy of acting on creative ideas and inspiration.    

Rev. Mindy Lawrence
Associate Minister
Unity Church of Christianity
Houston Texas

713.782.4050

mlawrence@unityhouston.org