Creating Peace in the Chaos

Have you ever thought about what it takes for you to create?  We all love to create something in this life, right?  Whatever your passion is, think about how you get there.  Do you have an inner desire to begin or do you plan it thoroughly?  I am a planner, but I tend to create in utter chaos.  In my bedroom, I have a creation station area.  Everything was moved into this area to free up our guest bedroom, which used to house everything crafty.  However, when I dive into creating something these days, it is often an exploration that usually ends in spilled coffee, lost items under my sewing desk, or a crammed attempt in tight quarters.  No matter how much I organize, it is always chaos, but isn't life like that sometimes?

Lately, I have been on a paper kick.  I started making bookmarks out of different papers and designs.  Some have paper clips, while others do not.  The end product is the same...a bookmark.  The journey to get to the bookmark, however, was not the same.  No two were alike.  The paperclip bookmarks were quite time-intensive.  The prefabricated bookmarks I ordered from Amazon were much easier to design, but the creative process was less tedious, and therefore, less stressful.  In the end (you guessed it), still a bookmark. I learned so much more while creating both of them.  I learned more about myself and how my mind creates.  I knew I wanted to make bookmarks out of both methods, but both were so different. Should I choose one type because it is easier or go for the more difficult one because it stretches me and helps my creative juices flow? Is easier always for our betterment? ( I will post my bookmarks in a future post).

There is only so much we can control. I recently closed my art studio and despite doing as much as I could, the doors could no longer stay open.  I have learned in this life that some things are temporary.  Some relationships are not meant to last, while others are older than dirt and just as reliable to be there as the ground we walk on.  I have also learned that not everyone comes from the same walk nor learns to create the same way.  While teaching and guiding students in their creativity, I would present ideas to them about how to proceed in their creative process.  Sometimes they would take my advice and other times they would not.  Through it all, I encouraged them to trust their instincts and learn during their creative attempts even if the end piece was not what they were hoping for.  

Using a holistic approach and understanding that not everyone is interpreting and processing information the same, allowed my students greater freedom in trusting their own creative abilities and taught me to back off.  Sometimes my students would cry in disappointment, but the session would always end in talking it over about what they learned and what could be changed for a better outcome next time. Some of my students were challenged in their fine motor skills and had difficulty using a paintbrush, while others were struggling to follow directions.  Having the sensitivity to discern what approach was needed was crucial to helping them in their journey because every person doesn't learn the same.  It was in these chaotic and challenging moments, I witnessed my students losing their peace.     

I find that life is often like this.  Did I try to understand today when someone messed up my order? Or was I kind to the car that just cut in front of me in traffic?  Today may not have gone as well as I had planned, but by the grace of God, what could I do better next time when I am in a similar situation?  We are all like bees just bumbling around on this giant floating rock, trying to get to our honey.  Yet, even bees help one another in the hive.  Why is it so hard to stay calm in the chaos of life?

From now on, I am going to try harder to show grace and mercy when things are chaotic.  Our peace doesn't come from the outcome, but rather from Christ Himself.  In my bathroom, I have a small scripture sign to remind me what to do when I am stressed.  Isaiah 26:3 is an amazing reminder for us all. 

This scripture reminds me when I am having difficulty accepting others' differences and need to "back off", that it is important to trust the One who made them and me.  Am I helping them to create a better life by my own lack of grace and empathy or am I hindering my own ability to create peace in the chaos? 

One of my favorite hymns is "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing".  I had our pianist friend play this song as my bridal march for our wedding. God has always spoken to me in lyrics.  At the beginning of this song, the words say, "Tune my heart to sing thy grace". While I understand that I need to be more gracious and merciful in my flesh, perhaps it might be best to allow Jesus to take over more often when the need arises. He is, after all, the music in our hearts...even in the chaos.