The Lost Season of Creativity

The Scripture declares:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: … a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; Ecclesiastes 2:1-2

Creativity is seasonal. The very foundation of creativity is the expectation of a harvest:

1. We plant seeds of idea and concept.
2. We nurture with faithful attention to detail.
3. We weed and prune with constructive feedback.
4. We harvest with implementation and presentation.

Genesis 1 shows us the first example of a creative season. Our Creator spoke words and concepts into the dark abyss, and in six days we see the culmination of the greatest creative work ever in the history of the universe. Then came day number seven.

(Silence)

God rested. God had a season of creative dormancy. This was for our example.

Creative Dormancy

A deprivation of dormancy can render our creative field deficient and deplete.  Dormancy is not laziness, it is restoration. The curse of a creative is the compulsion to create constantly. We all need a seventh day. There are no eternal batteries.

Sometimes you just need some time – sometimes five minutes – sometimes a day – sometimes a week. Sometimes you need to walk in the fresh air. Sometimes you need to read and learn. Sometimes you need to pray. Sometimes you need to sleep.  Sometimes you need to be yourself. Sometimes you need a hobby. Sometimes you need to laugh. Sometimes you need the Creative to create something in you.

The most fruitful times come after we rest. Let us never forget the most important season of creative dormancy.