It was a joy and privilege to be invited to Tiara’s (name changed for privacy) beautiful home this evening, Earth Day, April 22, 2024. Everything in her… Read more “Why things matter: an Earth Day 2024 tribute”
Thoughts on our priestly role as creatives
All of us have the potential to offer ourselves selflessly in service to others and embody the role of a priest. The concept of priesthood is not… Read more “Thoughts on our priestly role as creatives”
Creativity gone awry?
Sometimes we work on our creations away from the eyes of public scrutiny and then unveil it in a proud moment hoping that this would be well-received… Read more “Creativity gone awry?”
Stewarding our prophetic call as creatives serving the greater good
What sets apart one prophet from another in the eyes of the Gift-Giver? There are prophets—those who receive the insight of truth and declare it with accuracy… Read more “Stewarding our prophetic call as creatives serving the greater good”
A sure way to grow and scale your creativity
As we think about how to grow and scale our creativity, It’s helpful to distinguish between purpose-driven and purpose-given. To be purpose-driven is to be in a… Read more “A sure way to grow and scale your creativity”
A Great Start for the NEW YEAR!
Reimagining success Our goal in the New Year is not to live worry-free or stress-free. In our quest for peace, let’s make sure that we aren’t short… Read more “A Great Start for the NEW YEAR!”
A unique strategy for sustainable creativity
How shall we sustain the human drive and motivation to continually strive for peace and do good? It shouldn’t take too long to figure out that if… Read more “A unique strategy for sustainable creativity”
What drives creativity? The power of inspiration vs the inspiration of power
What is our (creator’s) go-to source of power? And how do we define or distinguish inspiration as something separate from and other than the use and/or abuse… Read more “What drives creativity? The power of inspiration vs the inspiration of power”
Rewriting the story of human creativity
Decolonization comes with its share of resistance. It’s not easy to give up control. Because wrapped deep within our human capacities to control and colonize rests our… Read more “Rewriting the story of human creativity”
The Art of Being Still: Finding Rhythm and Purpose in a Chaotic World
Who wouldn’t want the waters to be parted and a way made through seemingly insurmountable obstacles? In reality, our birth into this world signifies that we are… Read more “The Art of Being Still: Finding Rhythm and Purpose in a Chaotic World”
How Coco Gauff and King David Teach Us to Overcome Challenges with Problem-Solving and Presence
Did you catch the U.S. Open women’s finals? The match between Coco Gauff and Sabalenka was intense! During the commentary, Chrissie Evert revealed that Coco’s winning strategy… Read more “How Coco Gauff and King David Teach Us to Overcome Challenges with Problem-Solving and Presence”
Thoughts on participation
Hearing is one thing, but to listen with discernment is quite another. The ability to see inherent contradictions in something is evidence of discernment. A songwriter depicts… Read more “Thoughts on participation”
Overflow. When creativity bursts its banks
The creativity in you and me may be compared to a great river that overflows its banks on a regular basis making our hearts, minds, bodies, and… Read more “Overflow. When creativity bursts its banks”
Unbridled Joy
Have you ever been greeted by your pet dog when you return home after a long journey? For some of us, returning even after a brief period… Read more “Unbridled Joy”
A prepositional approach to creating for everlasting value: some questions to ponder
We create in the moment, but for everlasting value. Here is a prepositional approach to grasp the meaning or essence of the idea of everlasting to enhance… Read more “A prepositional approach to creating for everlasting value: some questions to ponder”
7 ways to consider the poor through art
I am against the image of the starving artist. The starving artist phenomena is an indication of an economy that is bent out of shape and economically… Read more “7 ways to consider the poor through art”
3 ways we stifle creativity and a prayer to help unblock creativity
It’s previously been stated: Mercy is not receiving what you deserve; Grace is receiving what you don’t deserve. An example is creation at large. We are grateful… Read more “3 ways we stifle creativity and a prayer to help unblock creativity”
Creativity is necessarily more than ideation
Creativity is popularly understood as the power of ideas. Those who have more and better (more relevant?) ideas are often associated with being more or “truly” creative.… Read more “Creativity is necessarily more than ideation”
3 ways to help transform how you wait
“Wait! Yes, but what am I expected to do in the meanwhile?” Here are three scenarios: The idea of course is to wait, patiently. The image that… Read more “3 ways to help transform how you wait”
Eulogy for a fellow creative
Today’s first thing I did was remember the gift of life, creativity’s ultimate defining presence. I attended Naveen Siromani’s “Celebration of Life,” streamed online via YouTube at… Read more “Eulogy for a fellow creative”
How to cultivate the right environment for creativity to thrive
All of us are in a way “created to bloom.” But what sort of environment can help each one of us to thrive in accordance with the… Read more “How to cultivate the right environment for creativity to thrive”
More on why meekness ain’t weakness
More on meekness. It’s not a garment to be put on one day and taken off the next. Rather, meekness is a state of being-ness that is… Read more “More on why meekness ain’t weakness”
Leaping for meekness
In a capitalistic-bent creative economy, we are urged into production for a return of investments, which is certainly justifiable. What we as artists and creative people in… Read more “Leaping for meekness”
How to deal with malicious talk…managing HR is everyone’s responsibility.
Receiving negative feedback and being a target of malicious witness are two different things. Negative feedback is helpful, usually, if it is foregrounded in mutuality, trust, and… Read more “How to deal with malicious talk…managing HR is everyone’s responsibility.”
Creativity and social transformation
We fashion hearts, not manufacture products merely. Rescuing artistry as a sacred profession from the clutches of neoliberal-driven enterprise includes going against the majority focus to depend… Read more “Creativity and social transformation”
Voicing vulnerability, vantage viewability
Innovation indeed is a team effort. There has to be more than one person asking the hard questions. It is going to take focused investigation from multiple… Read more “Voicing vulnerability, vantage viewability”
“Please unmute your mic”
A lame man leaping like a deer. A mute person breaking out in songs of joy. These are like modern day public service announcements broadcasting announcements of… Read more ““Please unmute your mic””
Quarreling
Even if we were to solve the problems the environment—lack of clean water, pure air, thriving forests etc.—who will save us from the propensity of humanity to… Read more “Quarreling”
longing
When’s the last time your heart leaped for joy at the sight of someone or something? I want to be part of a community where lovingkindness is… Read more “longing”
Strength-building, inside-out
Learning to conquer our fears—probably one of the hardest things that all of us need to learn. It’s hard work climbing a rock mountain, but once we… Read more “Strength-building, inside-out”
A chief responsibility as creatives
One of the chief responsibilities in the light of our appointment as creatives is to create in such a way so as to elicit outbursts of songs… Read more “A chief responsibility as creatives”
When creativity plays hide-and-seek
“And why do we need to go through this again?” So that we don’t get too puffed up thinking that our creative capacities are entirely “self-made.” The… Read more “When creativity plays hide-and-seek”
How to find your creative voice and why you must use it
Listening to the voice of reason is not enough; acting upon it in a timely way is what is necessary. A problem is that it is becoming… Read more “How to find your creative voice and why you must use it”
How creativity can be a way to share in suffering with others
A fundamental fallacy of the common perception of thriving is to imagine it in terms of fullness or fatness or being full of the potential to grow… Read more “How creativity can be a way to share in suffering with others”
What makes your art worth it?
Creativity is strongest when it invites and makes possible participation in truth. Combined with truth such creative strength becomes a shield, impenetrable. Each thought, word, note played,… Read more “What makes your art worth it?”
What are you waiting for?
What are some core creative capacities that are developed as we learn to wait? Whether it’s waiting in a doctor’s office to hear the results of a… Read more “What are you waiting for?”
Waiting for justice
Among other things, creativity is an invitation to seek purposefully; not to aimlessly wander but to seek in order to actually find. We actively seek justice. But justice… Read more “Waiting for justice”
How creativity is prior to religion, and what this could mean for creative confidence
We tend to associate the idea of faith primarily with matters of religion, but in fact it is something more basic. Creativity as a common human capacity… Read more “How creativity is prior to religion, and what this could mean for creative confidence”
What’s your favorite marinade, for your creativity?
What does it mean to adopt a posture of humility in our assignment as creatives commissioned to create for the transformation of our world? An expression of… Read more “What’s your favorite marinade, for your creativity?”
How creative self-expression can work for a better world
It’s alright to write or speak of creativity as a principle, a philosophy, or a practice. But ultimately, it takes a person to either adhere, affirm, or… Read more “How creative self-expression can work for a better world”
The logic of creativity: “inescapable mutuality” or inescapable greed?
Creativity for all. This is freedom. Ultimately, it’s not merely about the human capacity to create, but first to realize that our abilities notwithstanding, all people are… Read more “The logic of creativity: “inescapable mutuality” or inescapable greed?”
Are we losing our creative standing? If so, how do we regain it?
Who doesn’t want peace and stability? Yet it appears that we work hard at ensuring a secure place for war and disruption in the world. It seems… Read more “Are we losing our creative standing? If so, how do we regain it?”
New Year, New Beginnings? How to move from bitter to better
If we were to actually do something to make a creative difference in the world where might we begin? A strategic response, if there is one, may… Read more “New Year, New Beginnings? How to move from bitter to better”
Activating hope
At our evening family prayer time we read a poem on the theme of God the Provider. God watches closely and provides fully. It’s easy to lose… Read more “Activating hope”
They are what you desire
As I drove my daughter to school this morning, I asked Siri to “play some Chopin.” And Siri did. I wondered what my father, if he were… Read more “They are what you desire”
Why innovate?
We innovate not in order to create something new, but it is because we are made anew in Christ–who is before all things created and by whom… Read more “Why innovate?”
Why you can’t force anyone to dance
At the heart of innovation is the joy unspeakable, but yet danceable! We just moved across states here in the U.S, again! This time, it was into… Read more “Why you can’t force anyone to dance”
