During Lent here at Suburban Presbyterian Church, we are exploring the creative and liturgical arts, with classes and speakers dealing with storytelling, iconography, dance, visual art, writing, and so on. The theme is “A Beautiful Thing,” inspired by the story of the woman anointing Jesus and his declaration that “She has done a beautiful thing for me.” (Mark 14, NIV)

We are working on the notion that everything we do can be considered a beautiful thing–a creative offering to God–whether it’s gardening or scrapbooking or accounting or sorting clothes at the clothes closet or child-rearing. And so:

1. Would you call yourself “creative”? Why or why not?

Yes, there are a lot of things I do that are creative.

2. Share a creative or artistic pursuit you currently do that you’d like to develop further.

Writing and crocheting (see skirt in pic).

3. Share a creative or artistic pursuit you have never done but would like to try.

Calligraphy! I have all the things I need; I just need to get started.

4. Complete this sentence: “I am in awe of people who can _____________.”

Sing. I can’t, so it’s one of those great mysteries to me—especially people who can sing by ear.

5. Share about a person who has encouraged your creativity, who has “called you to your best self.” (I’m pretty sure that’s from the Gospel of Oprah.)

Most definitely Jenn. We’re both writers, and it seems she’s finding ways of egging me on to be the best writer I can be.