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Creativity, God and Us

It’s interesting to note that the first two chapters of Genesis (the beginning of creation) at the beginning of the Bible open with creativity themes.  God’s inspiration and creativity resulted in the creation of our world and us.  God was the first Creator; His creativity was born out of love for us and this world. 

God Has Knitted the Earth with the Healing Power of His Love

Since God created us and the rest of creation out of love, it’s apparent that human creativity – the desire to create beautiful things – stems from our own loving connections with His creation.  Since the first and purest form of creativity began with God, our relationship with Him imbues us with His love and creativity.

For me, taking walks in the wilderness or other natural places with the blues, greens and yellows of the plants, water and clear skies heal and restore my spirit.  Such moments can also lead to expressive art, poetry, literary compositions, photographs, music, and so on… wonderfully creative and restorative occasions.

Yet, although we are capable of ethically pure creativity, some fall into a self-centered mentality with little regard for our neighbor or God’s other creations – as long as a profit is made.  If we allow them to abuse the natural wonders and beauty around us, we may one day lose them; and with them go the healing and restorative places and creativity that so many of us crave.

Biodiversity is a Reflection of God’s Creativity

collageIn the natural worlds that I frequent, I never tire of seeing and appreciating the multitude and diversity of living things and their habitats.  How refreshingly varied and colorful are the wildlife, plants, fish and insects that inhabit those places!  I glory in the creativity that provides these wonderful things, as I breathe grateful prayers to our God, the Great Creator.

Yet, I also witness the revulsion that people express when encountering some of God’s creations – like snakes and spiders.  They don’t understand or appreciate a snake’s beauty and efficiency; nor why spiders share the world with us.  Without these “yucky critters” we would be over-run with mice, rats, insects, frogs, toads, etc. (although each also plays an important role in the wildlife community).  It takes spending time with them, and understanding them, to appreciate their useful nature…and the dislike disappears.

Since God’s creativity resulted in such a diverse creation, it stands to reason that God loves diversity.  Like God’s creativity, such biodiversity works together for the greater good; what we call “food chains” or “webs of life.”  What a fitting reflection of His creative glory!

Since God Loves Diversity, Why Do So Many Dislike It?parrot_edited

As a wildlife biologist, I realize that creativity and biodiversity happen all the time in healthy, natural places.  Yet I wonder why human diversity is so difficult for us to accept in our brothers and sisters?  Why do people so readily object to persons, places and things that are different? 

Racism, hatred and other negative social attributes result from this tendency to cling only to those things that are familiar and similar to us.  A good understanding of God’s loving and diverse creativity can enable us to reach out and connect with the many aspects of His creation………no matter how different or alien these people, places, or things may seem. 

Our Take Home Message
As related in the first chapters of Genesis, I believe God’s creativity originated from His love for us and creation.  The earth and everything on it belong to God.  One way for us to show our gratitude is to respect, care for and appreciate the earth and not allow it to be abused.  Our love for God and His creation can empower us to reach out and relate to the diversity of people, places and things He has also created.  This approach challenges us to confront the human tendency to withdraw from different people, places and things.  Instead we must strive to reach out, and in the process, creatively grow

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About Author:

John Gallegos

John Gallegos

John Gallegos was born in Lynn, Massachusetts. He is a professional senior wildlife biologist employed by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish & Wildlife Service. After completing three years of military service including a tour in South Vietnam, John graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology. He joined the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Division of National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in 1974. He specializes in managing wetlands and woodlands habitats to benefit migratory birds.

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