I’m not creative and that’s ok
Everywhere you look today, creativity is all the rage. I have to admit, I love reading about creative types. I remember reading about Bobby Gruenewald, who single-handedly created an app that has allowed the Bible to be downloaded over 100 million times (now 1 billion) around the world. I get jealous of guys who can create amazing websites, background slides and sermon videos like it’s no trouble at all. It all goes back to high school with me. I painted, drew in pencil and pen and ink, and even dabbled in mixed media. However, I never once created something from scratch. I could mimic or copy any piece of work I found, but creativity wasn’t my gift. I went to art class, hired a painting tutor, and spent my spare time practicing, but creativity was a gift I couldn’t seem to work up.
Ministry seems to be the same way for me. I don’t have many original ideas. I’m not the guy who dropped 10,000 Easter eggs from a helicopter first. I also didn’t come up with our church website theme (I downloaded it). My gift isn’t creating, but I can mimic pretty well. Let me explain. In high school I actually won awards (nothing impressive I promise) for my art. It wasn’t because it was the most creative, out of the box artwork. It was simply good art. (Here’s where we apply what we’ve learned.) I don’t have to be the most creative children’s pastor, worship leader, or minister out there. I have come to accept and appreciate my role inside the box.
Some of you are outside the box kinda guys and gals. I’m not. I do best inside the box. Show me a system and i will work it to death. Show me a good idea, and I’ll do what it takes to make it work for my church. I’m all for using new and fresh ideas, I just can’t seem to come up with them. Realizing I wasn’t creative was actually a pretty freeing experience. I know I can’t create a better website than the guys who make wordpress themes, so I let them do it. I fulfill my duties inside my box, and allow others to compliment my box with their box. There are people at our church that do a better job greeting strangers than I do. They are our greeters. There are ladies who have a better eye for stage design and decorations. We let them take that on. In ministry it’s easy to feel like we need to be the one creating everything. My advice: excel in your box, and support others in or outside theirs.