We Call It Creativity

On Sunday, February 9, 1868, the poet, Emily Dickinson made the following entry in her diary.

Winter will not relinquish its crown. Snow hides the earth and-in the bitter air- the trees stand stiff. A pale sun appeared this afternoon but soon ceded its position. Yet inside jessamine and crocus- fearless- smile, while purple blossoms make a bold display. Life blooms undeterred though it glimpse Death through the window. I find peace in this indoor garden. My flowers- Nature's emissaries- nod approvingly as my pen moves- and knowing that- it moves more quickly!

Emily's diary was discovered in the conservatory on the east side of the homestead, one of her favourite spots. Her niece, Martha Bianchi, described it as a "fairyland" at all seasons, a tiny glass room with white shelves on one wall, on which grew ferns, heliotrope, jasmine, and other varieties of exotic plants. We know from reading the local paper that the reported temperature was fourteen to twenty degrees below zero that week as Emily gazed out the window while writing in her diary.

Life is a balance of sweetness and bitterness, of that which inspires, exhilarates us and that which limits us, demands so much of us. We find ourselves rushing back to the places in our lives, in our homes, where the canvases of God and His colours are seen. It is at these alters that we learn of the things of God through human expression. We are inspired to express Him through ourselves. Sometimes the expression is subtle and other times, it is profound. Through this human expression, the mysteries of God, things that we do not know, are revealed...in thought, word, song and poetry of life. And as we continue to express who we are, God continues to create. But it doesn't end there as our expressions inspire others, each in turn, revealing God as they are true to themselves.

We call this creativity.