I don't like watching the movie Cast Away. Not because I don't think it's a great movie, it's because of Wilson. That dang volleyball makes me cry every time.
One of my favorite scenes from the movie that I actually enjoy watching though, is when Tom Hanks' character succeeds at creating fire for the first time. The minute Hanks sees the tiniest spark, his entire mind and body go into hyper speed fanning, coaxing, and praying the little flame into a blazing fire. If he loses the flame, he may lose his life. This could be his one chance.
To me, this is the perfect image for what my creative process looks like. When inspiration hits, it usually comes in the form of a tiny spark. And I've learned over the years that I must immediately do whatever I can to fan it into flame, or else the idea might be lost forever.
Perhaps this is exactly what the writer of 2 Timothy meant when He said, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6) The moment we get a glimpse of God's movement or hand in our lives, we must immediately fan that flame into growth.
In other words, God provides the spark and asks, "Will you fan it into flame?"
The artist never allows a spark to extinguish. She knows that each spark must be coaxed and formed until a blazing fire is born. Then, and only then, can her inspiration grow into art.
One of my favorite scenes from the movie that I actually enjoy watching though, is when Tom Hanks' character succeeds at creating fire for the first time. The minute Hanks sees the tiniest spark, his entire mind and body go into hyper speed fanning, coaxing, and praying the little flame into a blazing fire. If he loses the flame, he may lose his life. This could be his one chance.
To me, this is the perfect image for what my creative process looks like. When inspiration hits, it usually comes in the form of a tiny spark. And I've learned over the years that I must immediately do whatever I can to fan it into flame, or else the idea might be lost forever.
Perhaps this is exactly what the writer of 2 Timothy meant when He said, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6) The moment we get a glimpse of God's movement or hand in our lives, we must immediately fan that flame into growth.
In other words, God provides the spark and asks, "Will you fan it into flame?"
The artist never allows a spark to extinguish. She knows that each spark must be coaxed and formed until a blazing fire is born. Then, and only then, can her inspiration grow into art.
