Courage and Creativity

Today in my email inbox, I had two updates from writers. The first concerned a 'pep talk' kind of letter from the folks at ScriptFrenzy (which I signed up for, but did not attempt this year) called 'Fools Know the Way'. The second was from Jeff Goins, and called 'You Have to Be a Little Crazy to Be Creative'.

The basic idea of both was that we have to be courageous and unafraid in order to be creative. Because let's face it, anyone who creates anything is going to be smacked down, told they can't succeed, or worse at some point in their life. 

I think I'm getting better. But sometimes I'm still afraid to speak up, put myself out there, or continue onward when someone says 'You can't think/say that, someone might get offended.' 'That idea is wrong because of x.' 'It's not your business to feel that way.'

I suppose my mentality has less to do with creativity and more to do with figuring out the messiness of life. But life is creative, right? Even if we aren't intentionally creative, we are all creating and forming and molding--not just physical objects, but ourselves and the way we impact the people around us.

So while we should be conscious of the way we affect people, getting scared of affecting people the 'wrong way' (whatever that means) and earning their wrath, disgust, etc is a lesser way to live. The conundrum remains: be afraid of people and 'what they can do', or be bold and courageous and creative?

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."

Proverbs 29:25

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matthew 5:11-12

I guess that pretty much says it all right there. :p

(I'm not claiming to be persecuted at this very moment...but it's encouraging to know that persecution is not necessarily a bad thing when it has to do with being truthful and defending something that's right. Ya know?)

On a side note, when I looked up the 'fear of man will prove to be a snare' part there was a digression talking about how a snare can be either a noose or a hook (implied to be a hook for the nose). Just thinking about being stuck in a noose or having a hook through the nose is cringe-worthy--and when in pain or fear, we as people are completely helpless and respond to the whims of our 'captors', or the people who inspire fear. It's just the way we work.

Being afraid of what other people think is a crippling way to live. I've seen it--and experienced it to some degree. But I'm trying not to be afraid anymore. Say it like it is, hold up the truth, and God will take care of the rest. 

Here goes. :)