I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s a fact that has been voted for time and time again by people who have visited. Personally, I have also been blessed enough to travel extensively – and I agree with the polls. Cape Town is one of the most uniquely beautiful places you will ever find. But ask me if I truly sit and notice Table Mountain – at the foot of which I live – or the beautiful vista of the city I drove past this morning and I would honestly have to say it never even crossed my mind.
Don’t become too familiar
This is one aspect of our human condition that I constantly cannot understand: our tendency to become familiar. After listening to a song a few times, it loses it’s meaning and simply becomes a pleasing melody or “sick beat”. That new pair of shoes you saved up for has just become one option each morning that you might not end up choosing. That job that you were hoping and praying for has become a reality – but a few weeks down the line, it annoys and drains you.
Same old routine
In the same way, we can also get familiar with God. Repetition without intention will result in familiarity. If you surround yourself repetitively with the things of God (reading blogs, listening to podcasts, reading the Bible even) without intentionally engaging directly with him, familiarity is inevitable. That is why young people can grow up in church and resent it. That is why watching Christian content or listening to worship music can become mundane and ineffective in your life. Believing in Jesus means engaging with him daily. It means living each day in awe of who he is and what he has created.
Open your eyes
One thing that I think sparks creativity is having a fresh awe for the things people take for granted. Stopping to look at an old building that everyone else is walking past – you would be able to appreciate the cracks and crumbles of the brickwork, the dated architecture that framed the time it was built and harkened to a different perspective in history. You could imagine the stories of those who had walked past generations ago, the stories of the activity that would have taken place inside. The layers of meaning are endless. I believe you could do this with practically anything we encounter on an everyday basis. And all of these observed layers of meaning can be inspiration for creativity in your own life.
What can you see?
The cracks and crumbles in the building’s facade could encourage you that no matter what the conditions and opposition you face, if you build your life, your business and your relationships strong – they will stand the test of time. If you analyze the architectural style, you could appreciate the invested sentiment of a time passed and be intentional about how you portray yourself and your beliefs in every aspect of what you do. In thinking about the stories of people who encountered the building, you can have a respect for your place in history and question whether you are contributing to the generations that will follow your lifespan. In thinking about the different uses the building had you can appreciate how industry, business and context can change, but the building still holds purpose – what is constant in your life and what is flexible?
Look a little deeper
All of these life-altering analyses came from choosing not to take the building I see across the street while I write this for granted. Living in awe of life, ultimately leads to living in awe of God. He is the original Creator – who not only enabled us to create for ourselves, but also to appreciate all types of creation. If you are tired of the humdrum familiarities of life, can I encourage you to focus on God? He is so great – so multifaceted – that you will always find a new angle to stand in awe of. He is not only the ‘judge in the sky’ or the compassionate shepherd of our souls, he is also the most captivating element of existence. We were made to gaze at his greatness. To take note of his beauty and ability and revel in the rich joy of knowing him personally. If you would like to see God a little clearer – to know him better and appreciate all he is, click on the link below to find out more.