Creative Pursuit
I’m trying an on-line bible study, through a group called Soul Per Suit.
To me, the genius of this study is that it combines a need/love to create with a need/love of the bible.
Rather than just answer questions, we’ll share (through a Yahoo group and a blog) our creative responses to the scripture— poems, creative writing pieces, collages, even dance choreography (I’ll leave that last one to the dancers).
Somehow, this makes me understand the genius of Judaism. I consider that its richness is partly found in its creative response. The design of the Passover meal, for example… or making a beautiful sukkah during Sukkot, or crafting a fantastic mask during Purim.
I think this is why my family is drawn to the Jewish roots of our Christian faith. There, we can see, smell, taste, touch, sculpt what is otherwise spiritually abstract. Faith as a creative pursuit.
"Meeting" painting by Stefani M. Rossi Used with permission.
posted by L.L. Barkat at 10:22 PM
18 Comments:
L.L.!!
I have been thinking these thoughts recently myself!! I even have a blog post in my drafts titled "The need to create".
Haven't gone beyond the first sentence, though.
You did..and more!!
What a wonderful idea to combine these two in a Bible study. I was always intrigued by the Passover meal and didn't know about masks being involved during Purim.
I love Sandra Glahn's Bible studies and am currently working through Espresso with Esther (on my own). Thanks for the link to SoulPerSuit - it looks really interesting and I'm going to look into it further.
I have participated in a Soul Per Suit study before and was completely blessed by it. (You can see some of my artwork and the artwork of my children over at the soul per suit site). I'm considering joining this one if my life slows down long enough. (Moving is just plain hard.)
Wow...that's really a very cool approach to a Bible study. I like it. Makes me want to be more mindful of using my creative abilities just for God sometimes...if that means creating something beautiful in my journal that only God will see then I should do it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Have fun. I was hoping to join you guys this semester, but too many other things. I had to say no. Hopefully later. So I'm looking forward to your "answers."
Thanks for the link! This might be just what I need!
Thanks for sharing this link!
Thanks for your kind words, L.L. :)
I hope SoulPerSuit meets a need for you. Some of us have had an unmet need for worshipping through creative expression for years. (Drop me a note, if you're one of them. There's still plenty of time to jump in on this round!)
SPS looks like a brilliant idea!
I was mentioning the Soul per Suit Bible study to my watercolor teacher the other night, and her face lit up. She said, "You know, sometimes, when I'm painting like this (loose composition, heavy pigment, broad strokes) I feel the same way as when I'm reading the Bible and have a moment of understanding."
We moderns actually produce or create so little in our daily lives (except for maybe more information or an out of context widget), that creative expressions seem like sighs of relief to God's image within us.
Andrea... okay, I'll be waiting for that post!
Eph... Judaism is more fun than people sometimes realize.
Katrina... tell me what you think once you look.
Relevant... moving... oy. Maybe I'll get to do SPS with you some day in the future.
KM... journal... also a good place to be creative! I guess I am most motivated by connection, so I expect I'll actually do more in SPS than I ever would on my own.
Heather... answers? Uh oh. Well, I may come up with some good questions...
Ini, For Now... enjoy the view!
Erin... I only speak highly of what I like. This is part of my nature. So, I hope you don't view it as a favor of some sort; I truly find your work fascinating.
Craver... brilliant, yes. Who thinks of these things?
Charity... your response is like poetry. And that's an insightful thought about how little we create. That's part of the loss of a consumer culture, no?
LL reagarding your comment to me....Thanks, but I can't do it at this time. I hope they start a new one in the Spring. I have to check the site a little further, but I think I can even do it with a couple of local ladies.
LL, your thoughts on this post, of course, reminded me of Girl Meets God. (I've been trying to get my hands on a hard copy of this book. I gave mine to a friend to share with a different friend before I left CA and forgot to get it back before I moved. Anyway, it seems bookstores aren't keep on keeping hardcovers of books once the paperback versions come out. Okay, that was really longwinded.)
Anyway, I love this whole thought because it gets us in touch with the truth that God can minister to us (and we can minister to Him) through every single one of our senses. Thanks for sharing.
PS: I wrote a short note back to you on my post about the Claiborne book on my site.
L.L., That sounds so much like a wonderful idea. It is almost like God's creativity to us, in his creative word, is returned by us, with a creative response (of course all- of God) that God awaits and can take delight in. Somehow this seems so important in part, as to how we're to live out our lives here, now.
Look forward to your thoughts in coming days on your experience in that.
Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci were contemporaries. Their approach was different, Laonardo worked for money and recognition, was a genius no doubt, where as Michelangelo worked for God, his faith and devotion brought the best in him.
Hi. Along with Erin, I'm one of the creators of SPS. Thanks for your comments. Erin said creativity would feed a hunger for many in the area of Bible Study and she was right. I hope you all enjoy the web site (although it needs a lot of work).
There are currently two Bible Studies in their entirety on the web site. They are there for you to do whenever you can at your own pace.
Sounds interesting! Something that might be up my alley some day!
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