Distinctly Creative
Distinctly Creative
My dad presented the idea to me when I was ten years old: “Let’s do a Tennis & Canoe road trip.”
“What on earth is that?” you might ask. I wondered the same.
His concept was simple, but unusual. We’d climb in the car and set off to a distant lake for a few days of canoeing and camping. Sounds nice, but here’s the catch: on the drive there and back, we’d stop at every single random tennis court we happened to pass and play a few games.
“What a great idea!” … said no one ever.
But a few days later, off we went… canoe strapped up top, paddles hanging out open rear windows… detouring to find every high school or municipal park that might have a tennis court. It was a great adventure, and it was classic “my dad.” He had a relentless quirky creative sense (that often bordered on being slightly ridiculous, in a good way). If you knew him or took one of his classes, you know what I’m talking about. He didn’t mind if people thought his ideas sounded a little crazy at first. In fact, he’d laugh and play right along with the “mad scientist” personification.
Ultimately, this creative approach to life is what people remember most about my dad.
Yes, they remember his amazing knowledge of the Bible, but most of all, they think of his unique teaching style and the inventive methods he created to help Christians grow deeply in their faith.
About a year ago, I was at a Christian conference and overheard a nearby conversation. A guy I had never met before was reminiscing about old times and talking about a speaker he heard at a Christian youth event many years ago. He even remembered the wacky-but-memorable title and content of the weekend’s teaching series some 35 years later. I smiled and cut-in… “Hey, I think you might be talking about my dad!” Sure enough, the speaker he was referring to turned out to be “Dr Dave.”
Are we being actively creative for God? Do we think about unique ways to bring others to Jesus, or new and interesting ideas that will unite Christians? Are we doing anything for the Lord that might even be remembered or used 35 years from now… or more?
In most cases, the greatest enemy to our creativity isn’t time, money, or training. Most often it’s fear of ridicule and rejection — and/or simple apathy. It’s always easier to stay safe in our own comfortable little world than to be bold for Jesus.
It’s often been said, and I think God would strongly agree in a spiritual sense: the worst thing we can do in life... is nothing.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 – Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
- Ron Reid