Am I just replicating what has already been made? Can anything new really be created? Why bother when there is so much already out there? I would have to say, because my attempts at re-creating the divinely inspired creation is my form of worship. Telling God, look what you made and how it made me feel is my way of giving thanks. Thanksgiving in what has been made and in what has been given, inspires me to showcase it. To tell the world, “have you noticed?” “Look again, don’t just rush past!” Breathe it in deeper this time, let it change you. Let the beauty of His creation make you new each day!

Why do you create something? What inspires you to build, to model, to make new? I believe we were created. We were sculpted. We were formed. We were put together out of inspiration and love. We were made in the image of our Creator. We were made to be like him, to carry his likeness within us, to reflect his likeness to each other. This is why I believe we create – as a response to the One who made us. If this is so, then we cannot help but create. If being creative is in our nature, how do we nurture this part of us? The way I am inspired to create is in response to all that I see, hear, smell, taste, experience that God has made. His creation astounds me and I love to attempt to replicate it. I love to find a piece that someone else hasn’t seen and show it – highlight what I see – say, look at this! When you see a shooting star, you can’t help but gasp, “oooooh!” Try looking for something today that makes you stop and point. Ask God to show you a piece of himself today, he has left messages all over his creation. Post a picture here if you find something that makes you want to say, “oooooh!”

Creativity is one of the 4 C’s of 21st century education. What is creativity and can you teach it? I aim to uncover this gem, this coveted spark, this enigma of mental processes and how to tap into it, use it, and grow it in today’s students. As an educator of young children through college age young adults, I am most encouraged and excited by the creative minds I encounter. Students who ponder, wonder out loud, engage in discussion, and weigh the outcomes of their musings are some of my favorite people to teach. Students who are willing to think deeper, explore an idea – picking it up out of the box – looking at the different sides before setting it down in a new place give me hope for our future. This is the idea I wish to flush out. How do we encourage creative thinking? What is creativity? Why do some people overflow with it and others shy away? How can we nurture this in our students? Come along with me on this journey. Collaborate, give input and thought, help us all understand how to inspire creativity in our next generation.