Light of Creativity

The Darkness of Negativity………. the Light of Creativity

Today’s devotional “The Darkness of Negativity………. the Light of Creativity” asks us to consider how our words can be those that crush others or can be ones that lift them up and encourage them. 

THOUGHT: 

Just imagine a little child, sitting at the kitchen table, softly biting his lip in focused concentration, with a half of a glass of milk at his side, some cookie crumbs on his t-shirt, a “drawing’ in front of him and a box of crayons spilled around the table. When asked what his creation is supposed to be, he proudly states that it is his favorite animal, a horse, galloping on the beach. “Do you like it?” he beseechingly asks. Most of us, would gladly praise his “masterpiece,” touting its beautiful colors, and how we would love to have a horse just like that one. Unfortunately, in life though, there are those who use the darkness of negativity to smash ideas and concepts and well-intended efforts. Instead of taking advantage of a perfect opportunity to build someone up, or at least to acknowledge and validate their worthiness, some persons use it as a way to experience their own self-imposed power through the darkness of negativity. Some persons might say something like “Oh…. that’s a horse…. REALLY?” or “I could have done much better” or “Next time, why don’t you use this color instead – don’t you think it would be much better?

In and of itself, those kinds of comments seem harmless enough. The ramifications of such inquiries and critiques though can be an impetus for developing low self-esteem, self-doubt, fear of trying, and a sense of worthlessness. Not surprisingly, it is not only children that are affected by such negativity. Adults not only carry memories of being put down into their adult lives, but also can continue to receive negative feedback and solidify their feelings of inadequacy.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. —Ephesians 4:32—

In Ephesians, we are taught the importance of being “kind” and “tenderhearted.”  In life, and even in the church, we are often quick to tear down and belittle someone and/or their efforts. Persons tend to want to voice their ideas, especially with the purpose of helping others. Yet, if someone else doesn’t agree with them or thinks their ideas are imperfect, they tend to confront them with demeaning and degrading words. Often those words are veiled or done in jest or “for their own good” but realistically only work to extinguish the light of the idea and banish their creativity into the darkness. Sometimes they say the victim is too sensitive. Yet where would we be without great thinkers and inventors who people tried to destroy?

Before God created the world, scripture tells us it dark and void. Yet, after His Creation, there was light!

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. –Genesis 1:1-5—

Some people will say, “Well, that’s because He is God, and He is perfect.”  True enough, but aren’t all of US created by God, and therefore worthy of the consideration and understanding that our talents and skills and ideas are God-given. To put someone down or to create a negative atmosphere is to say that person is not worthy of being listened to or appreciated.

When Job was questioning Gods’ Creation and Motives, God stated the following query in scripture:

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? –Job 38:4a—

God can handle the criticism, well, because… He is God. Simple. As humans though, a constant barrage of criticism or negative thinking can be very painful to someone’s spirit.

So, maybe in the future, we can work as Gods’ children to lift up, to encourage, to build, and to shine light on their efforts. Maybe, just maybe, we can run from the darkness of negativity and harsh put-downs into the light of new concepts, creative ideas, and most of all……being kind. Kindness can illuminate the recesses of negativity.

PRAYER: 

Dare we come to you God the Father, Creator of EVERYTHING? Thank You for all You have made. Thank You for making us, Your Creations, into just who you want us to be. Thank You for giving us a mind and a creative spirit. Help us to thwart negativity. Help us to demonstrate to others the positive avenue of encouragement through our own acts of building and fostering others’ ideas AMEN.

LIGHT OF CREATIVITY GROWS WITH ENCOURAGEMENT.

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