Selfish or a Steward? – Part 1

I’ve found one my biggest hurdles in becoming an Artist is thinking that it is a selfish pursuit. Evidence of this was given to me when I read Julia Cameron’s Walking in This World. Over 50% of the quotes I wrote down dealt with the topic of ego. I’m learning a lot about selfishness vs. stewarding and thought I’d share some of that with you.

Julia says in order to be an Artist, we must

“Relinquish the notion that our creative dreams are egocentric. Instead see them as spiritual adventures where God shapes us.”

If we are clear that our artistic dreams are planted in our hearts by God, then we need to see it as something He is calling us into for His glory, not something we have forced and orchestrated for our own glory.

If this is the case, then what we find is that

“God partners with us in our dreams.”

I can think of few things more exhilarating then this. The Master Creator calls us to create and partners with us while we do it. He is our Muse. He is our source. Our creative well will not run dry.

“When we tell ourselves dreams don’t matter we are denying our spiritual heritage.”

If God has called us to it and partnered with us in it and equipped us for it, then we are not being selfish, we are instead stewards of the gift. We are responsible for caring for it, nurturing it and using it well. If we nurture and encourage and allow space for our creative spirit, we will blossom and the creative waters will flow freely.

“Let yourself celebrate what you love and that you are the person that loves it.”

“Become nuts about self-notions, whimsies and ambitions instead of chiding ourselves to be adult.” (Be CHILDLIKE!)

“Respect our own time to be creative.”

“It is responsible to pay attention to our art.”

It is equally as egotistical to dwell on our insecurities and to wallow in self-pity. To say we can’t and to become embittered that others can. We can’t live in insecurity if we’re going to be an Artist. Part of the insecurity comes as we wrestle with figuring out what “our thing” is. It takes time to wrestle with God about who He wants us to be. BUT, there is a difference between wrestling and just giving up hope. If we aren’t sure of our dreams, then we need to fight valiantly for them until we know. Everyone can do something. God does not create worthlessness. We CAN’T live in worthlessness. We CAN’T let ourselves stay there. We have to stop worrying about what others will think of our dreams or if others have better dreams then us. God is arranging things for us that only we can step into. But we must take that step.

“Self-pity and insecurity focuses on how we are perceived rather than what we are perceiving.”

“Insecurity tells us we must be better or other before we can be accepted.”

“The root of comparison is insecurity.”

“When we are angry {or jealous} at being overlooked {or ignored} it is not arrogance. It is a signal we have changed sizes and must now act larger.”

“When I am active on my own behalf, I am less overwhelmed by others needs and wants.” Giving ourselves space to be creative fills us back up, so we have room to love on others. If we don’t give ourselves this space, we end up wallowing in self-pity and bitterness wishing someone else would rescue us. Truth is, we can rescue ourselves.

Finally, it is not selfish to believe that art matters. It’s not egotistical to believe that the arts make one of the greatest impacts on peoples’ hearts and lives in our world. God Himself used art to draw us to Him. Think of how creatively He painted the world. How much beauty He incorporated because His interest was not in creating robotic religion, but in creating living, breathing, loving relationships with us. He wanted to stir hearts, and He successfully does that with a sunset, an ocean wave, and a new baby being born.

And Jesus used art by telling stories. He won the attention of hearts this way. He not only used creative words, He was the Word, made flesh. It doesn’t get much more artistic then that.

Art matters because God says it matters. Art matters because He created our hearts to be stirred.  Art matters because it breaks down barriers and reveals similarities. It connects us at a human level and speaks to our need for something bigger and greater to believe in.

“The medicine to heal a sick world is creativity.”

“As we express what we are longing to say there is always someone longing to hear precisely what we expressed.”

“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got. Do it or don’t do it.” – The War of Art

In my next post I will share from Galatians some differences I found between living ego-centric and living free. Living selfish or living as a good steward.