ARTICLES
Enjoy the following articles - we can learn a great deal about how to develop our creativity through observing the world of animals! Read and be blessed!
KANGAROOS
Provide a nurturing place for dreams and goals that are important to you and others! Just as a kangaroo carries its young in a pouch, make sure that you provide a warm, safe place for your dreams and visions as they grow and develop. Oftentimes we can shoot down our own dreams and desires out of fear, or we can allow critical, discouraging comments from other people to dissuade us from pursuing our passions. Spend time with the Lord and discover what His dreams and purposes are for your life, then pursue that plan with everything you have! Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Keep moving forward! Kangaroos generally move in a forward direction and find it difficult to move backward, largely because of the presence of their thick, muscular tails and large hind feet. It is important for us to keep moving forward in our creative activities and endeavors! We might be tempted to retreat and move backward when we experience disappointment and setbacks, such as auditioning for a role and not landing the part, or receiving negative feedback on a visual art piece or creative short story that we submitted for professional critique. In these kinds of situations, it can be helpful to review what we could have done differently to improve the outcome, remind ourselves that there is a purpose and a plan for our lives, then continue developing and honing our artistic skills until the next opportunity comes along!
Keep moving forward! Kangaroos generally move in a forward direction and find it difficult to move backward, largely because of the presence of their thick, muscular tails and large hind feet. It is important for us to keep moving forward in our creative activities and endeavors! We might be tempted to retreat and move backward when we experience disappointment and setbacks, such as auditioning for a role and not landing the part, or receiving negative feedback on a visual art piece or creative short story that we submitted for professional critique. In these kinds of situations, it can be helpful to review what we could have done differently to improve the outcome, remind ourselves that there is a purpose and a plan for our lives, then continue developing and honing our artistic skills until the next opportunity comes along!
BEES
Make something amazing from readily accessible materials and environments! Just as bees take nectar from flowers and turn it into honey, as creative individuals we can take material that is readily accessible and turn it into something amazing. Perhaps you live near a beautiful park or garden that others would like to see in photographs or featured in a watercolor painting. Or maybe that same park or garden would serve as a wonderful setting for a screenplay, poem, or book that you’ve been thinking about writing! Take a look at the world around you and at the materials in your home, and ask the Lord to reveal what kinds of transformations are ready to happen!
Look for mutually beneficial relationships! Bees and flowering plants have a symbiotic relationship. When a bee drinks nectar from a flower, some of the pollen gets on the bee’s body, then rubs off on the next flower that the bee lands on, thereby pollinating it. In this mutually beneficial relationship, the bee receives nourishment and the plant is able to reproduce. Similarly, we may want to participate in relationships that provide benefits in multiple directions. Perhaps you have a friend who is a talented vocalist who is willing to give you complimentary singing lessons, if you will use your photography skills and take a few headshots for her professional portfolio. When we help each other, the world around us benefits as well!
Look for mutually beneficial relationships! Bees and flowering plants have a symbiotic relationship. When a bee drinks nectar from a flower, some of the pollen gets on the bee’s body, then rubs off on the next flower that the bee lands on, thereby pollinating it. In this mutually beneficial relationship, the bee receives nourishment and the plant is able to reproduce. Similarly, we may want to participate in relationships that provide benefits in multiple directions. Perhaps you have a friend who is a talented vocalist who is willing to give you complimentary singing lessons, if you will use your photography skills and take a few headshots for her professional portfolio. When we help each other, the world around us benefits as well!
SWANS
Be willing to work at having long-term partnerships and relationships! Swans generally mate for life, unlike many other birds which stay together for only a season. Swans experience multiple benefits from having a lifelong mate: swans are able to learn from past successes and failures in raising their young together, including determining the best place to build a nest; swan couples are able to more effectively fight against predators; and swans save time and energy by not having to find a new mate each year, which is particularly helpful for swans which spend a portion of each year in migratory flight. Similarly, it can be beneficial to find trusted long-term partners to work with in our creative activities and endeavors, so we can more efficiently and effectively produce what the Lord has called us to create. In order to have healthy long-lasting relationships, we must learn how to set a vision, communicate well, forgive quickly, and overcome obstacles together. As Psalm 133:1 says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers [and sisters] to dwell together in unity!”
Pay attention to the unique characteristics that the Lord has given to you! Swans have beautiful, long necks up to three feet in length that enable them to find sources of food that are significantly below the surface of the water. What unique physical or personality characteristics do you have that might indicate the art that’s in your heart? For example, do you have long fingers that might allow you to play certain musical instruments with greater ease? Do you have a loud voice and a gregarious personality that might be well-suited for live dramatic or vocal performances? Sometimes paying attention to our God-given physical and personality characteristics can help us discover the art that’s in our heart. Ask the Lord to show you the unique characteristics that He has given you, and how He wants you to use these traits for His glory!
*Note: Although the Lord often uses our natural characteristics to link up with the art that’s in our heart, He also has a great sense of humor and reigns above every situation and circumstance – He may call you to be a public speaker or actor even if you are hesitant to be in front of crowds, or a professional basketball player even if you are relatively short. Just keep following the nudges of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord will supply all that you need to perform your calling and destiny!
Pay attention to the unique characteristics that the Lord has given to you! Swans have beautiful, long necks up to three feet in length that enable them to find sources of food that are significantly below the surface of the water. What unique physical or personality characteristics do you have that might indicate the art that’s in your heart? For example, do you have long fingers that might allow you to play certain musical instruments with greater ease? Do you have a loud voice and a gregarious personality that might be well-suited for live dramatic or vocal performances? Sometimes paying attention to our God-given physical and personality characteristics can help us discover the art that’s in our heart. Ask the Lord to show you the unique characteristics that He has given you, and how He wants you to use these traits for His glory!
*Note: Although the Lord often uses our natural characteristics to link up with the art that’s in our heart, He also has a great sense of humor and reigns above every situation and circumstance – He may call you to be a public speaker or actor even if you are hesitant to be in front of crowds, or a professional basketball player even if you are relatively short. Just keep following the nudges of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord will supply all that you need to perform your calling and destiny!
RABBITS / BUNNIES
Be a good listener! Rabbits are able to hear sounds from as far as two miles away, and can turn their ears independently in order to have a full panorama of sound. Intentionally being a good listener is important when we engage in creative activities. When we focus on listening, we may discover that other people in our lives are engaged in creative activities that might be of interest to us: we may hear about an interesting play, musical production, or art exhibit to attend, or we may feel led to collaborate with these individuals in some creative endeavors! It is also important to listen to the Lord about our involvement in the arts; the Lord may speak to us about becoming involved in or turning down certain artistic opportunities, or He may give us a blueprint for a creative project that will be a blessing to many!
Be ready to move quickly! Bunnies can move speedily when needed. Similarly, there are times when we may need to move quickly to take advantage of positive, artistic opportunities. It is important that we have other elements in our lives in place so that we can make decisions speedily when needed. For example, have we already identified other godly individuals in our lives whom we can call quickly when we need to make an important decision about something? Have we already been practicing listening to the Lord and obeying His directions immediately?
Be ready to move quickly! Bunnies can move speedily when needed. Similarly, there are times when we may need to move quickly to take advantage of positive, artistic opportunities. It is important that we have other elements in our lives in place so that we can make decisions speedily when needed. For example, have we already identified other godly individuals in our lives whom we can call quickly when we need to make an important decision about something? Have we already been practicing listening to the Lord and obeying His directions immediately?
DOLPHINS
Play and enjoy life! Dolphins have a playful attitude, and can be observed riding waves, jumping in arcs over the water, and play fighting with each other. We can still find time to enjoy ourselves in the middle of a busy, creative week! Add a little fun into your daily activities – you might want to share a quick joke or humorous story during the beginning of a presentation, and post comic strips and other funny items on a bulletin board in your workspace. Maintaining a cheerful attitude has multiple benefits: Proverbs 17:22a says, “A cheerful heart is good like medicine” and Nehemiah 8:10 tells us, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.”
Be creative in your communication! Dolphins use a variety of ways to communicate with one another such as whistles, clicks, and nonverbal communication. These forms of communication serve a range of purposes such as staying in contact with one another and expressing intentions/attitudes. Try using different forms of communication in your professional and personal life to change things up a bit and keep things fresh. For example, if you normally express appreciation to someone through sending a thankful email, instead try mailing a greeting card, making a personal phone call, sending a small gift, or treating the person you’re thankful for to coffee or lunch.
Be creative in your communication! Dolphins use a variety of ways to communicate with one another such as whistles, clicks, and nonverbal communication. These forms of communication serve a range of purposes such as staying in contact with one another and expressing intentions/attitudes. Try using different forms of communication in your professional and personal life to change things up a bit and keep things fresh. For example, if you normally express appreciation to someone through sending a thankful email, instead try mailing a greeting card, making a personal phone call, sending a small gift, or treating the person you’re thankful for to coffee or lunch.
ANTS
Collaborate with others to accomplish great things! Ants in a colony take on different roles in order to establish a thriving community. These functions may include building and maintaining the nest, protecting the colony from invaders, looking after the young, and feeding members of the colony. Likewise, we can accomplish tremendous things in the arts when we collaborate with others. Perhaps you are a gifted (or aspiring) screenwriter and want to put together a short movie – ask the Lord to reveal the people in your life who can act, videorecord, videoedit, and market movies! I Corinthians 12:12a says, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.”
Be adventurous and seek new possibilities! Just as ant scouts leave their nest and explore unfamiliar territory to find new sources of food, be willing to venture forth and explore new opportunities! Perhaps you have been wanting to take a tap dance class, learn how to play the trumpet, enroll in acting classes, or engage in other artistic activities, but you have been a little hesitant for various reasons. The only way to really know what great possibilities lay ahead is to move forward and start exploring. You may find incredible nourishment for your spirit and soul!
Be adventurous and seek new possibilities! Just as ant scouts leave their nest and explore unfamiliar territory to find new sources of food, be willing to venture forth and explore new opportunities! Perhaps you have been wanting to take a tap dance class, learn how to play the trumpet, enroll in acting classes, or engage in other artistic activities, but you have been a little hesitant for various reasons. The only way to really know what great possibilities lay ahead is to move forward and start exploring. You may find incredible nourishment for your spirit and soul!
WHALES
Take a deep breath of air! Whales typically breathe around every 5-15 minutes, although some whales can stay underwater for much longer. For example, sperm whales can stay underwater and search for food without taking a breath for up to two hours. What kinds of activities can we engage in as artists that will metaphorically provide us with a deep, refreshing breath, so that we can stay focused on our creative endeavors for long periods of time? You might want to go for a walk, take a coffee break, call a friend, and/or spend some time in the Word. Find rejuvenation, and then engage in the arts!
Filter and retain the positive aspects from every situation! Some whales have baleen plates and bristles instead of teeth, and use filter feeding to gain nourishment. These whales swim with their mouths open and take in water filled with krill, fish, and zooplankton; the whales then expel the water out of their mouths, leaving the edible organisms caught in their baleen bristles. Similarly, there are positive aspects of every situation that we can incorporate into the rest of our lives. For example, maybe you auditioned for a role that you didn’t get, but you made some great connections with fellow actors while you were waiting for the audition. Or perhaps a piece of pottery that you made cracked when it was fired in the kiln, but you made a beautiful glaze during the process that you can re-create in the future. Focus on the positive aspects of every situation and keep moving forward! Romans 8:28 says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Filter and retain the positive aspects from every situation! Some whales have baleen plates and bristles instead of teeth, and use filter feeding to gain nourishment. These whales swim with their mouths open and take in water filled with krill, fish, and zooplankton; the whales then expel the water out of their mouths, leaving the edible organisms caught in their baleen bristles. Similarly, there are positive aspects of every situation that we can incorporate into the rest of our lives. For example, maybe you auditioned for a role that you didn’t get, but you made some great connections with fellow actors while you were waiting for the audition. Or perhaps a piece of pottery that you made cracked when it was fired in the kiln, but you made a beautiful glaze during the process that you can re-create in the future. Focus on the positive aspects of every situation and keep moving forward! Romans 8:28 says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
SPIDERS
Realize what you have inside of you! All spiders have the ability to produce silk, which many kinds of spiders use to create webs. These webs then trap insects, which provide nourishment for the spider. Ask the Lord to reveal to you what He has placed inside of you that can become a means for capturing nourishment! What unique gifts and abilities has He given to you that you can parlay into a creative business, or into a ministry that blesses others? 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Be willing to follow the Lord! Spiders have the ability to “balloon,” which means casting a silk thread from their abdomens into the wind, then allowing air currents to take the spider to a new location. Many times in life we need to allow the Lord to take us to a new place so that we can enter into the fullness of our destinies – this might entail moving to a new geographical residence, taking a new job, beginning new friendships, and various other changes. Genesis 12:1 says, “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’” Genesis 12:4a continues, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.”
Be willing to follow the Lord! Spiders have the ability to “balloon,” which means casting a silk thread from their abdomens into the wind, then allowing air currents to take the spider to a new location. Many times in life we need to allow the Lord to take us to a new place so that we can enter into the fullness of our destinies – this might entail moving to a new geographical residence, taking a new job, beginning new friendships, and various other changes. Genesis 12:1 says, “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’” Genesis 12:4a continues, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.”
HORSES
Increase or decrease your stride as needed. There may be times in our creative lives when we need to increase the length and power of our stride, such as when we are in the final stages of putting together an art exhibit or preparing for a recital. Conversely, there are other times when we need to relax our pace and slow down; restful activities like taking a walk or getting a massage can provide us with the revitalization that we need to keep our creative edge sharp. As we read in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”!
Lift others up to greater heights! Being seated on top of a horse and seeing the world from a higher perspective is an amazing experience. Be willing to lift others up so that they can see the world from a higher place! We can lift others up through giving them a word of encouragement. We can also give people a boost by providing them with new experiences – if you know people who have been struggling with blocks to their creativity, try taking them to a concert, art museum, or another creative venue/activity. Being surrounded with the sights and sounds of top-notch creativity can unlock inspiration and motivation!
Lift others up to greater heights! Being seated on top of a horse and seeing the world from a higher perspective is an amazing experience. Be willing to lift others up so that they can see the world from a higher place! We can lift others up through giving them a word of encouragement. We can also give people a boost by providing them with new experiences – if you know people who have been struggling with blocks to their creativity, try taking them to a concert, art museum, or another creative venue/activity. Being surrounded with the sights and sounds of top-notch creativity can unlock inspiration and motivation!
HUMMINGBIRDS
Be willing to pause in mid-flight. It’s important to have a plan of logical steps to follow in order to complete the creative projects we’re working on, but every so often we should pause and evaluate how things are going. Just as a hummingbird hovers and looks around to see which flowers might be the tastiest, we can stop for a moment and look at our environment for the best options. For example, if you are a jewelry maker, are there other suppliers who offer better beads and gemstones at a lower price? If you are directing a play in your local community, are there more spacious venues that you can use with greater availability of hours for rehearsals? Ask the Lord to provide you with His best solution!
Spend time with the sweet things in life! Hummingbirds generally prefer drinking nectar from flowers with a relatively high sugar content, in order to sustain their high metabolisms. Likewise, when we are pouring out lots of energy into our creative endeavors, we need to fill our lives with situations, activities, thoughts, and people that pour sweetness back into our lives. Avoid toxic, critical, negative environments and relationships, unless the Lord has specifically called you to make a difference in those situations. As Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
Spend time with the sweet things in life! Hummingbirds generally prefer drinking nectar from flowers with a relatively high sugar content, in order to sustain their high metabolisms. Likewise, when we are pouring out lots of energy into our creative endeavors, we need to fill our lives with situations, activities, thoughts, and people that pour sweetness back into our lives. Avoid toxic, critical, negative environments and relationships, unless the Lord has specifically called you to make a difference in those situations. As Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”