Healing Through Creativity

Cynthia and I had an overnight visit with a new friend this past week and every moment of our time together was beautiful, restorative, and inspiring. She fed us simple but delicious meals, took us on a long walk to the beach where we saw a stunning sunset, introduced us to her favorite coffee/art shop, booked us a tour of a local tea farm (SO COOL!), and then invited us to craft with her. 

That last part was the most surprising as social crafting is way outside the norm for me… since I’ve reached adulthood, that is. Admittedly, I was a tad intimidated as I do not consider myself especially artsy but upon seeing the paints, glue, decorative napkins, book pages, and other gathered mixed media supplies, I felt excited to sit down and create. 

After a brief explanation of all the various items at our disposal, we each threw ourselves into our own little projects.  At first, I felt lost, making random brush strokes on a piece of watercolor paper, but then I picked up a page from an old hymnal and saw the phrase “I surrender all.” It spoke to me, as I, in fact, had not surrendered all but sure did long to surrender all and release to God all that felt heavy and daunting. I ripped out those three little words and made them the central theme of my creation. 

Once I had clarity on what I wanted to meditate on, the act of creating became prayerful and therapeutic. I stopped worrying about doing it “right” and relaxed into the soothing process of expressing what was in my heart with my hands and imagination.  My mind was resting from ruminating but also open and receptive to insights born of stillness. 

Thomas Merton said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Creativity bypasses our darkened and limited reasoning, making room for mystery and illumining our minds and souls with divine perceptions that reveal what it means to be truly human. Countless times, my heart has been pierced by poetry, literature, music, art, and nature. Crafting with friends, I felt that same inner rejuvenation. “I want more of this,” I thought. 

And so it’s been scheduled! I came home and picked a date to host my own crafting party! I’m so thankful to our kind and generous host, who reminded us to feed and nurture one another with plenty of community, creativity, and beauty.  

Make the effort! See the sunset! Knit the scarf! Take the hike! Sign up for the class! Read the novel! Pick up the watercolor paints and don’t overthink it. Just listen and tap into the depths of your being where Christ abides. Nourish yourself and others with transcendent light, love, and peace. 

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