A friend asked me to play piano for the communion portion of the worship service. He would be on guitar.
Normally I’m at the electric keyboard filling in with background tones for our praise band. And I enjoy doing that. But there is something about playing an actual piano that resonates deeply with my heart.
My friend’s invitation stirred my desire to play. To be heard.
Threatened with Silence
That desire was quickly met by a small nagging “voice” whining a dissonant tone in my mind’s ear.
Want to be heard?
That’s nothing but Pride!
(And what does God say about pride?)
So you must not play!
Eventually the irony of the accusing lyric struck me. My wanting to be heard was almost as audacious as;
- the architect who wants her designs to become useful and attractive homes that people really live in.
- the artist who shows his paintings in a gallery, rather than hide them in the back of his closet.
- the chef who anxiously waits to see if diners savor her culinary creations.
My desire to be heard was as ludicrous as my hoping that you actually read the words I am writing on this page!
the Creative Voice
God gives us voice so that we can communicate. He gives us creative expression as an extension of our voice. Why shouldn’t we share our voice in its fullness?
Yet how often we may hold back from using our language of creativity.
Maybe we’ve been told that the creative voice is a form of pride and that silencing it is more “holy” than giving it permission to soar.
Perhaps we quiet our language of creativity because we compare ourselves with others, only to determine that we are lacking. (That’s the way pride really kills our creativity!)
What if we accept our language of creativity as part of our gift for communicating our hearts? To speak comfort, to encourage and inspire, to instruct, to give fresh vision and hope; using language that far exceeds the limitations imposed by mere words?
Heard
I played the piano that Sunday. Not as well as some others could have. And not because I needed to impress anyone. But because my heart had an opportunity to speak.
And I was heard.
How will you speak with your voice today? Your full voice? 🙂
I need to read this about once a month! This is truth and my heart needed to hear it.
Thanks Bethany. Your creative voice is rich, and encourages and blesses many. Including the One who gave it to you! 🙂
Love this! thanks.
Glad you did Crystal. You are also one who clearly has a “creative voice”! 🙂
thanks! i wonder what you see as my “creative voice”?
Well, when you talk about God and your relationship with Him, you do not talk with the voice of “facts and stats”.
Rather, you talk with the voice of longing. THAT is part of your creative voice. Creativity is such a part of God’s character, that I believe in us, it stirs a deep longing for knowing God and others that is often painful.
Additionally, you desire to speak into the lives of others. That is also part of God’s character. He has gifted you with that desire, that reflection of His heart. Your using that gift to help others requires creative thinking, and the creative voice.
🙂
got it! thanks!