This week I was invited to speak at a school chapel. It is not often I speak to children, but I got excited and knew what I wanted to talk about: How to stay an artist when you grow up, and for those older attending: rekindling the artist within.  Here's a bit of what I shared. It began with some questions:Have you ever made a drawing or painting or sculpture?Have you ever written a story or a poem?Have you ever sang a song, or danced, or acted, or made a video?Have you ever thought of a new idea?YOU ARE AN ARTIST!Pablo Picasso said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."The definition of an artist on Google is:

• A person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby.

• A person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker.

• A person skilled at a particular task or occupation. “A surgeon is an artist with a knife.”

Other words for artist are: designer, originator, creator.

God made you an artist. How do I know? God is the great Creator, and says in the Bible, Genesis 1:26-27 NLT

“God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us… So God created human beings in his own image….male and female he created them.”

We are made creative in God’s image! God, our Great Creator has created such variety and amazing beauty all around us. Look at the birds. Each particular type of bird builds the same type of nests according to their instincts, but we have creative choices of how to design and build a house. God invites each of us to co-create with Him.

The enemy wants to rob us of our creativity. He cannot create, but only destroys and twists the beauty already created. He lies and says, “You aren’t creative.” “Don’t waste your time and energy on making things.” “You aren’t good enough.” “You can’t draw.” “That’s just for children.” Lies!

If we believe the lies, we eventually stop noticing the wonder of God’s creation and beauty around us. We lose our sense of wonder of creation and awe of God. We can justify it as “growing up.”

But then once in awhile there comes this longing of the heart, this little niggling that dares to say, “There must be more…” “Oh God, is there more to life?” God invites us to become like a child again, to discover, to be full of wonder, to experience the “more.”

When I was a young mom, my children kindled my sense of wonder. Each time they discovered something new, I entered into that discovery with them, through the eyes of a child, like the first time, with awe and wonder.

A child is constantly engaging the imagination. Last time my grandson came to the door for a visit, he was a train. I was greeted with “Choo, choo.” Smiles and hugs.

In Mark 10:14-16 The Message Bible, Jesus tells his disciples, “These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.” When I imagine myself in the scene as a child, I see how Jesus loves. I can experience Jesus love.

In becoming like a child again, the ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary. I notice the beauty of light as it plays on my morning cup of coffee. I feel joy as the birds are singing. I wonder at the stars in the sky. I am amazed at the growth of a seed into an edible plant or colorful flower. A walk on the beach is like heaven…

Here in the United States, school is just getting out for the summer.May this season hold blessing for you, blessing of becoming like a child, with permission to PLAY...