2.22.2009

Insights from "The Artist's Way" and John Mayer

I started "The Artist's Way" last week, but then I got overwhelmed with assignment and then the retreat. So I'm doing week 1 over again. There are so many neat insights from this book that I wish I would've learned earlier in life. So I'm going to share just a few with you today. Here are a few quotes from other people that Julia Cameron includes within her pages:

"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong." - Joseph Chilton Pearce

"It is the creative potential itself in human beings that is the image of God." - Mary Daly

Cameron goes on to claim that the number one thing that keeps all people from embracing and tapping into their inner creativity is CORE NEGATIVE BELIEFS. She describes all sorts of them that most of us walk around carrying: I don't have good enough ideas, I can't spell, It's too late. She says that our number one ally is AFFIRMATIVE WEAPONS. We need to fill ourselves up with positive beliefs. She says that some people think this is hokey or embarrassing; but it isn't. It's powerful! She lists out 20 Creative Affirmations that all of us should get into our hearts and minds. Here are just a few.

-Creativity is the creator's will for me.
-My creativity leads me to forgiveness and self-forgiveness.
-I am willing to learn to let myself create.
-I am willing to let God create through me.

In other news:

I find out sometime after March 5th which synod I will be placed in somewhere in Region 3 which is Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. How am I feeling about all this? Hmmm. It depends on which minute you were to ask me about it. Here are some things I am CERTAIN and UNCERTAIN about:


CERTAIN: I can't wait to become a pastor and start learning and growing with a new bunch of people.

UNCERTAIN: I am not sure how I feel about the potential of being placed in North Dakota. It's the one place in the country that everyone in seminary makes fun of getting placed. Like, "Wow! North Dakota! Ha, ha. It's so desolate. I sure hope I never end up there." On the other hand, there are actual people living in that state, and I bet they are really cool.

CERTAIN: I do love a good challenge.

UNCERTAIN: Most likely, I will be moving to wherever I get placed on my own. As excited as I am about a new challenge, this is slightly overwhelming. However, I do believe that even if friends and family aren't physically WITH me, they are still part of me. So there is some comfort in that.

CERTAIN: God definitely did not at any point in this whole seminary/life journey tell me that this 'pastor' gig was going to be easy, comfortable, or predictable. So, way to go God! You were totally right! Becoming a pastor is definitely not any of those things. :)

As most of you know, John Mayer is my favorite musician. And I have been listening to him a lot lately. For the last 3 weeks or so, I have been listening to the song '3 * 5' on repeat. Last week I even used it as the basis for a paper I had to write. And then I got my Regional Assignment and I am thinking maybe this song will be my First Pastoral Call Anthem. It's all about savoring each and every moment. Here are the lyrics:

http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php;jsessionid=A9D1139EACE56908F60824F6BE1D586A?hid=7abZq0FuGng%3D

Here is my Creative Everyday project for today. I painted with acrylics on top of a page of my dictionary. It's a page from the 'P' section of the dictionary as you can tell from the peacock in the background. It's supposed to be a tree and some pine cones. As we all might be observing, I have no idea how to paint. BUT, that's not what it's about. I was just so inspired looking at the sun hitting a branch outside my window, so I thought I'd try to capture it a bit.

Don't be afraid to explore all that imagination, creativity, and holiness within you, friends! Remember, you are amazing.


1 comment:

  1. I love your reflections Emily. I also really like your art piece from this day. I love how you used an old piece of paper to work from.
    Lindsey

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