New practices that nurture

August 3, 2020 Uncategorized

Dear friends,

A number of weeks ago, St. Andrew’s own Courtney Robinson Hastings posted on social media about a new practice she and her husband Todd have been following: getting up very early in the morning in order to attend to important but often neglected practices like exercise, prayer, or learning a new skill. Inspired by the Hastings, I too have started arising earlier in the morning.

Suddenly having “extra” time has been a blessing. I have begun working with a book that’s been on my shelf for nearly 30 years: The Artist’s Way, described on its cover as “a course in discovering and recovering your creative self.” The author, Julia Cameron, insists that all human beings are creative, and that using our creativity is a gift we give back to God. The two basic tools to develop creativity that she insists on are morning pages (three pages of free-flowing writing to be done first thing in the morning); and a weekly “artist date.” Cameron explains that the artist date is for our inner artist, the child within us who wants to create. Artist dates are to be done alone, with the sole focus on letting the child within explore and play—by taking a leisurely walk through a garden; exploring a museum; finger painting; or anything else that allows for creativity and enjoyment.

It has been fascinating—and helpful!—for me to be introduced to artist dates in the midst of this pandemic. I started the book only a few weeks ago, so thus far I’ve only had two artist dates. Both of them involved reclining on our living room couch for an hour or more, Diet Coke in hand, poring over a book of Biblical art through the ages, a volume John and I recently received from a favorite relative. I am 54, and I have never before in my life made time simply to sit with a book of artwork and enjoy its contents. I liked it. We have a number of other art books in our condo, and I am looking forward to upcoming artist dates exploring those as well as I wait for cooler weather and lower infection rates before venturing outside home for an artist date.

How is your inner child? What kind of care and attention might that child need right now—especially in the midst of the pandemic? How might you spend some quiet time alone this week, nurturing your creative side and remembering that you yourself are a beloved and creative child of our loving Creator God?

My prayers are with you as you do so.

Blessings,

Anne