Some writers tell me that ideas flow so fast they don’t have time to write them all. Others say the muse can be reticent. One thing both types of writers seem to have in common is a love of the creative exercise. Through my devotional reading, I entered into a creative exercise that I think many writers will enjoy. Would you like to join me?
The idea that your soul can be compared to a garden for the Lord to enjoy is not a new one, but I decided to spend some time thinking about what my soul would be like as a garden.
I’m still planting, but for now I’ve decided on several types of flowers. Azaleas because my grandmothers had beautiful azalea gardens and I have many established azaleas in my front yard now. Red roses because I’m romantic. Orchids because I can be high maintenance. Lots of green houseplants because I’m a hale and hearty homebody. And plenty of fruit trees and vegetables since I take great pleasure in cooking to feed the people I love.
While thinking, I realized the value in the creativity of this exercise. So naturally, I thought about writers.
How about you? Have you thought about your Soul Garden?
And yes, I visualize the Lord walking through it. Sometimes He is carrying a watering can, making sure all the plants have enough to drink. I think this ability to visualize freely and joyfully in concrete terms makes it easy for me to believe in all the miracles of the Bible. Just sayin’.
Are you thinking about your garden now? This has been a nice, creative break, don’t you think?
Your turn:
What flowers are in your Soul Garden? Why?
Did imagining your Soul Garden release creativity for you today? How?
Do you have a favorite way of thinking creativity that you’d like to share?
A Love Affair with Words
Generally an idea sparks when I hear a specific word and relate it to a meaning I hadn’t thought about before. Or a scripture will suddenly jump out at me with that same kind of depth.
Sometimes a whisper of music or a phrase will send my mind down a new rabbit trail.
Or in conversation, a friend will say something with a new twist. And my mind is off and running.
The pattern here is words and music. Gee, maybe I should be a lyric writer. Hmmmm?
Thanks for a great post today. I woke up to a dreary, rainy morning, and you made me smile.
This may sound silly, but in my family we pass along flowers as we age. In my garden I have lilies from my Grandmother Hubbard. My Grandmother Lutz moved to a retirement home when I was still growing up, but she started me growing violets. My Resurrection Lilies started from my Aunt Judy’s home. A couple of years ago my parents moved to a retirement community, and Mom and Dad dug up a lot of flowers for my garden. I don’t know the names of all these flowers, but I know where they came from. My mother-in-law even let me dig up some of her day lilies and gave us a shoot from her blackberry bush.
Not only does spending time in my garden make me happy from the beauty of the flowers, it also reminds me of the love passed down through the generations.
Jackie, my grandfather had a garden that included 150 rose bushes. We took a few of them after he passed away and planted them at our last house. Sadly, we felt we needed to leave them there when we moved. I just hope they are blooming and blessing the new owners today.
Love this post, Tamela. I’m speaking to a writers group on creativity in March so I’m looking for innovative ideas on how we can tap into our creativity. I’ve already added this link to my resources list. Thank you!
Johnnie, glad I could help!
Interesting exercise, and one that I never tried..I’ve never thought of my soul as a garden…I’ve never really thought about my soul at all. Which is pretty idiotic, when you think about it.
Creativity…I don’t know where it comes from. and never gave that one much thought, either!
Zero for two. Maybe I’m in the wrong business.
But you did, for a moment that lingers still, transport me back to a lovely botanical garden that I can now visit only in memory, whose cool fragrances drifted on the breeze of the nearby cerulean sea.
I think you are in the right business, Andrew.
Oh, I love this Tamela. It is so me. I am a flower garden fanatic. I have been without for almost four years except for the few things I have drug with me as we are in an RV.
I loved your garden explanation-beautiful!
A garden takes me to the throne. His awesome creation.
When I walk through my mind’s garden, I see:
Towering ruffled iris, delicate, fragile and yet the strong stalks of my foundation in God hold me up.
Huge multilayered peonies of creativity blossoming out of the joy of my heart.
Peachy pink blooms of a Thanksgiving cactus that remind me how thankful I am and they stick their tongues out like funny little birds to bring out my humorous side.
Soft, blush colored roses that bud in humility from the branches of sticking thorns that have caused me much pain in my life.
Bright purple-blue hydrangeas that remind me that as they collectively make up a beautiful bulb of glory as the whole true body of Christ that comes together to glorify Him.
Hi.thanks for the post.
I never thought about gardens, before. With me, it’s music or sometimes I’ll see a movie or something on television that can get my creative ideas flowing. But it’s usually when I’m sitting listening rock music. Christian or otherwise.
Thank you for sharing. I love this creative exercise! I was challenged by the same concept – the Garden of our Hearts – in a conference with Lin Button out of the UK. It taught me to ask the Holy Spirit to stimulate my thoughts through images that directly related to the condition of my heart and how the Lord walks with me in my garden. So beautiful and personal…
Loved the path this blog led me down, Tamela. It reminded me of one of my fave hymns–I Come to the Garden Alone…while the dew is still on the roses…And He walks with me, and He talks with me…
Rose, that’s my daddy’s favorite hymn. 🙂
Tamela, this is just beautiful.
Thank you.