Before I post anything else on this Memorial Day, I want to say a word of thanks to all of our men and women in uniform. This holiday was first established to honor the Union soldiers who died during the Civil War, but after WWI it was changed to recognize American casualties from any war. To those serving our nation today, may God keep you safe, grant you victory in your mission, and bring you home to your loved ones soon. Please know that you are appreciated and supported by the majority of Americans. (Photo is of Poppet on our patio on Sunday.)
About five years ago, I participated in a systematic theology study with a group of novelists. We used Wayne Grudem's abbreviated version, Bible Doctrine, and I loved reading the portion on the Doctrine of Creation:
It seems that God created the universe, then, to take delight in his creation, for as creation shows forth various aspects of God's character, to that extent he does take delight in it.
This explains why we take spontaneous delight in all sorts of creative activities ourselves. People with artistic, musical, or literary skills enjoy creating things and seeing, hearing, or pondering their creative work. God has so made us that we enjoy imitating, in a creaturely way, his creative activity. And one of the amazing aspects of humanity — in distinction from the rest of creation — is our ability to create new things. This also explains why we take delight in other kinds of "creative" activity … Even children enjoy coloring pictures or building houses out of blocks. In all of these activities, we reflect in small measure the creative activity of God, and we should delight in it and thank him for it."
Wow! As a writer, I certainly could relate to what Grudem wrote. I enjoy creating something new, but it wasn't until the past fifteen years that I truly came to understand God made me to enjoy imitating His creativity.
What do you enjoy creating? Do you realize that God takes delight in your enjoyment of creative endeavors? Go ahead. Get out those crayons and coloring books or that set of building blocks and make something today!
~robin
