being creative

Most of the time I really enjoy my work.

That's worth saying, I guess, since for many folk that's not the case at all. (I mean, what sort of life does a Sky News reporter really have??) And I'm daily very grateful that I've got some work to do and that it's work I find fulfilling and enjoyable.

I think it's the inherent creativity which makes my work so satisfying. Not in a strictly 'artistic' sense - as in painting pictures all day long. But in the sense that I am essentially required to be creative all day long. In countless different ways.

Like at the school this morning. Assembly time. Where I don't have anything formal to do as such. Mainly a case of my being there. Sitting in and listening well to all that's going on.

And finding the ways to make the most of all the little chances that there are to be creative. Gentlemanly courtesies (no, not the sort of courtesying ladies do, but minding my ps and qs). Moments of conversation. Smiles to brighten up the day.

It's not that I get nothing at all to do, of course. I help give out certificates - so there's a chance to be creative in the way I'm doing that. I'm asked to lead the children in a prayer - and again there's scope for creativity in that.

I like being along at the school, I have to say. Building on relationships. Sharing in their lives.

A rather different sort of creativity's involved in what I found myself engaged in for the rest of the morning today. Seeing some folk in relation to needs or concerns that they have.

Some fairly major issues here. And a large part of what I am called by the Lord to do is simply listen hard and long. Listen to them and listen to him. To find the way forward and figure out how best they can be helped.

I hadn't planned my morning would be spent like that. At least not entirely so. It just was. The needs arose. The people came.

It's a case of being creative again.

Which I had to be at the lunchtime service, too, since the time I'd thought I'd have throughtout the morning to prepare just didn't exist at all the way it all worked out!

So expounding the passage of Scripture while thinking on my feet is an exercise again in creativity. I rely on the Lord to help me out. He being the great Creator himself of course.

These midweek lunchtime services are great. For the folk that come, for most of them at any rate, it's the one real way they get to share in the worshipping life of the people here.

A short half hour together in an act of public worship: and then the chance to eat and chat together over lunch. It's just sort of grown like Topsy into a weekly thing. That's somehow the creativity works. It just happens. Grows and develops quite naturally.

After lunch on a Wednesday I generally meet with one of the leaders here. I value the time with him. He's a long-standing friend with a down-to-earth wisdom and nous. Supportive and helpful.

And chatting things through with him like this, and rounding it off with prayer, that helps the creativity. Stimulates my thinking and gives clarity to thought.

After that it was down to some long-overdue work on the praise for the worship we'll be sharing on this coming Sunday night. A different sort of creativity again. Creating a memorable occasion where the presence of God can be known.

And before I knew it the morning and afternoon both were gone! The time just flies.

At night I was out once again. Meeting with folk in a sort of embryonic fellowship group. Just the five of us still. And we've started exploring Genesis. (As in the first book in the Bible).

What a great time we have. Addressing the questions quite honestly. And finding surprising vistas of truth. The whole thing comes alive.

Which I think never ceases to come as a major surprise to us all. Not that we don't expect God's word to be like that. It's just the way it comes alive is really very wonderful. Exciting just how apposite it is. How up to date.

I think we all felt that.

And I love the 'creativity' involved in bringing it alive.

There are few things quite as satisfying as that. So, yes, I love the work I do.