Transcript
Speaker: the first thing that popped into my head when I read this question was hang gliding. And I was like, I just, I don't want to have to try to do that. But how cool would it be to hang glide? Anyway, it's just a really random skill, but the You have to train if you only want to hang glide once. Yeah.
Speaker: This is the After Dinner Mint, a podcast of stories I tell you at dinner. Think of the mint as the stories you tell after you've been kicked out of the restaurant, holding your mint, standing in the street, telling more honest stories with your friends than you did at the table.
Speaker: It's not a sermon. It's not advice. It's not self-help. We're processing what we're learning about faith and life, honestly, in community. encourage you to do that with our God.
Speaker: and our communities. Welcome back the After Dinner Mint podcast. My name is Rachel and I'm going to be leading today's podcast session with Bec and Maddy.
Speaker: So if you've been listening for a while, you've heard our bios about who we are and what we do with our day-to-day during the week. We're to try something a little bit new today and we're going to do a bit of a silly icebreaker. If you want to read our bios, you can read them in the show notes.
Speaker: All right, Bec and Maddy.
Speaker: work on it or learn it what would you want it to be beck you go first Okay, I have two things. Firstly, I would like to be Keanu Reeves, it like Keanu Reeves, i don't want to be Keanu in the Matrix and just download like ninja skills. Yes. You know, someone tried to attack me in the car park, I'd be like, I'm immediately a black belt. Like I didn't have to try. Yeah. I thought about this. That is cool.
Speaker: And the other thing. Very practical. Yeah. The other thing I would like. It's so practical. It is practical. Yep. And the other thing I would like to do is know how to make my own clothes. Like there's a girl at church and she makes her own clothes and she makes these really cool clothes and I'm kind of just jealous and, but I'm not patient enough to learn.
Speaker: i mean, I would also like to know how to edit my own clothes that I find. Yes. I love, that you I'm addicted to that content. take it oh I know. People who go to my store and then make it cool. Oh, that's yeah. That's a good that's a good one. I know. I i know.
Speaker: That would be cool. I just like to know. I don't want learn. I just want to know. Maddie, what's yours? Yeah, look, I can't relate to the sewing one because I'm just like, and I have grandmas who do that. ah I'm like, I just really, good I just pass them, pass them my clothes. but They're amazing. They're awesome. But if I had a skill that I could immediately acquire, i don't know, i had two really random things. I only just thought of it, but two really random things that came in my head. And one was guitar. Like I would love to just know how to play guitar.
Speaker: I can play very basically, but like if I could play guitar well, that would be amazing. The amount of campfires you could enrich. Yeah. The amount of like, yes, so cool. Christians love that. one of those kids. They absolutely love it.
Speaker: They love a campfire guitarist. And marshmallows. Yes. But the other thing that ran first thing that popped into my head. want to know how to make marshmallows? Yeah. No, no. The first thing that popped into my head when I read this question was hang gliding.
Speaker: And I was like, I just, I don't want have to train to do that. But how cool would it be if you just need to hang glide? Anyway. It's just a really random skill. But that's the don't have to train if you only want to hang glide once. LAUGHTER
Speaker: Oh man. Oh dear. That's still not a skill. No, that's true. That is true. All right. Rach, Rach, what would yours be? It's called overconfidence. yes um oh mine my my first I had a random first thought too. My first thought was I want to i want to be one of those people.
Speaker: It's not really a skill, but I want to be one of those people that enjoys running. You know those people that are like, I run and I love it and it feels so good. it's like, Yes. I just hate it so much. I love running.
Speaker: i hate it. And I have tried to understand from people who love running. I'm like, explain to me. they're like, if you just ran and they write they give you a running plan. And I'm like, but why? I don't wish to, but I would love to be person. Like the skill is to enjoy it. Cause I was like, I can run, but I, unless something's chasing me, I don't want to.
Speaker: um so that was But I would also love to be some sort of like savant with a musical instrument. I'd love to be able to play the piano really. I can play the piano, but not very well. Like an instrument that I didn't have to practice would be very nice.
Speaker: So. That would be nice. Yeah. Anyway. There is a guy playing, i think it's Mozart. and I forget his name. And then he starts like bringing in the blues on the R&B. He's just like a savant with like the piano. How do you see him? He's amazing.
Speaker: Yep. And then he goes into like gospel, that bit. Yep. Amazing. I was actually just speechless. I had to watch it again and again. I love, yeahreizing yeah, he's amazing. He was weirdly the pianist. If you could just do that, there's no work.
Speaker: Stephen Colbert, the late show, he was his like resident musician for a long time. Side note, John Batiste, there you go. Anyway. Random. Oh, John Batiste.
Speaker: Yeah. That's so cool. Is he married to... I'm full of these. I could go to a place like it right now. Is he married to Sulika Jeyud? She does like the isolation journals, maybe, Substack.
Speaker: Anyway, I have no idea. We'll handle it later. Anyway, we're already off track and we haven't even started. Anyway, take us down a rabbit hole. but Get us on the track. So today's episode is slightly more upbeat then because we've had a few heavier ones, so we're going to take things up a notch.
Speaker: It's about awe and creativity, remembering God made the world beautiful and we can imagine him through creating beautiful things. We tend to get stuck on thinking that hobbies and creativity are only useful if they're a side hustle or productive, but we want to explore how we can incorporate creativity, beauty and awe into every day.
Speaker: Question one, what are some things that you just love to do, not because you're getting paid money for it or because you're great at it? Maddie, you want go first? I was thinking about this. and I just, i actually just love cooking.
Speaker: Like I love being in the kitchen, experimenting with different flavors. And, you know, I read, i think we've talked about this before. that book, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, and the way that you combine like an acid with a salt or the timing that you use. Like I love cooking as a science. Like it's kind of weird. But when you but when you like combine certain flavours and it actually just like something comes out really, really well, that is something I love, like just experimenting in the kitchen.
Speaker: Have you read the book Lessons in Chemistry? It's a novel. I've got it on my bedside table. it's So it's it's about other stuff, but it's literally about she does it has a cooking show, and but she's a scientist. You'll really like it if you like that. That's a big side note. But, yeah, yes.
Speaker: That's a good one. i um It's on my list. There you go. Yeah. I read it at my quick book club because an adult. Oh, I know. her i know. so jealous. Cooking is a very good one. You like cooking too, Bec, don't you?
Speaker: I love cooking. It's it's legitimately my hobby. Yeah, same. I was going to say cooking. It's going to be really boring.
Speaker: so I mean, I have other hobbies. I'm happy to list. Maddie, tell them. Or is cooking your number one? Oh, no. I mean, cooking is he should think definitely my number one is what isn the thing. but like in that But I also have this random side thing where I don't get time to do it very much, but I do actually love watercolours, like doing really simple little paintings. I am not, I am no artist, like in any sense. Usually it's like I'll write, I'll make a card.
Speaker: Like oh that's as much as I do as I empower and like do a watercolour as a card, like a birthday card or something. Mm-hmm. And it's they're really simple and they're not actually that good. Usually I just, I have this half-finished look and I'll be like, that's my style. But I'm actually a perfectionist and I don't know how to finish the painting. Watercolour is very forgiving and it looks artistic even if it's not,
Speaker: yeah That's cool. Yeah, I just like playing with it, but I don't get as much time to as I would like to. But, yeah, it's just that's very, I find that very relaxing as well as kind of a creative output and seeing, like, the beauty and all the colours that mix. and And, yeah, I just really do enjoy that.
Speaker: Nice. All right. Cooking, what else? ah cook Yeah, i mean so cooking and eating. um i also really... I love that you said and eating. yeah i was like, yep, that was good. Good. spec eating I learned how to cook because I really like to eat, but I also really like poetry, which is quite weird.
Speaker: Cause I didn't really read it until a couple of years ago, but I got into it. I read cake. Kate Bear. She had a poetry collection. She was on Instagram and then she had this poetry collection called What Kind of a Woman? And I read it and I was like, oh my goodness, is this poetry?
Speaker: And kind of just started writing it. And I was like, i don't I'm a wild perfectionist, but I was just like, just going to keep doing this. I don't care that it's bad. And slowly, I mean, I like to hope over a couple of years it's improved, but same as the watercolors.
Speaker: I just love doing it and it's much less work than an Izzo. Yes. True. And arranging flowers. And it only has to make sense to you. but Yes. You don't have to convince someone else of the point.
Speaker: I love poetry too, actually. There's a line from a, it's actually, it's from a book, but I heard it and I was like, that is possibly the most poetic thing I've ever heard. And it was, it's actually, can't remember what the book is called, but it's about,
Speaker: two lovers and the line is, I would know you in the dark if I was blind and you were mute. And I was like, that's like the most wonderful thing I've ever heard. They're like, yeah.
Speaker: Anyway, I like poultry. How does that stuck into your brain? It's stuck into my brain, yeah. that's And that's what, yeah. um Mine was also cooking, actually, um because i I love to cook.
Speaker: I don't, I'm very bad at cleaning afterwards, but I love cook. But it's also so, ah she couldnt and enough baking, because baking is too high so high, like steaks. But cooking, you can fix stuff.
Speaker: You're just like, I can reemulsify that. I can put some lemon juice in it, whatever. can put two souls over it. Yeah. And then my other thing that I like to do... Is to sing.
Speaker: I like to sing. You sing so well, man. and i like this I don't know if either of you have Apple Music, but they have a thing on it now where you can turn down the singing on the track and it just has the backing track so you can just do your own karaoke and it's the best thing ever.
Speaker: So I just sing karaoke with myself in the car all the time. so That's awesome. It's really good, yeah. Tell me this, though. If we all have cooking, you've got to answer me this. What's your favourite cuisine to cook?
Speaker: Thai. Thai. It's very easy. Fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, delicious. Yum. It's always good. Yeah.
Speaker: and You don't do the funny leaves and stuff? like you know Yeah, I do a cassia lime leaves. I do. That's cool, man. always get turned one because there's something else. I don't need to cook Thai because my neighbour is Thai. Oh, that's handy. He brings me beautiful food. I'm sorry. I need this.
Speaker: What's yours? What's yours back? oh I'm torn. I don't know how I would live without Italian in my life, but I also cook a lot of Mexican and a lot of Asian. Like, so.
Speaker: that That's, yeah. I'm like. Maybe Italian because I don't think I could function without it. I'm in like Middle Eastern land. Love a bit of like Moroccan and stuff. It's so tasty. I love pomegranate. yeah Put it on everything. ah I have a pomegranate tree. Do you?
Speaker: Friends. I know where you live. I'm going to come steal some. I have so many pomegranates right now. I'll come by your house. I will. All right, cool. Lovely. Okay. Well, given that we're all Christian women and this is a Christian women podcast, what challenges do we face in our culture and church communities around creativity? It can go one of two ways.
Speaker: I reckon you can get really stuck on productivity. So you're like, I need to be good at it. And if I'm not good at it, I don't waste my time. Or like it needs to be a side hustle. I need to turn it into something. Like it needs to serve a purpose.
Speaker: So then you kind of tend not to do it because you think, well, what's the point? Like, why would I do this if it's just going to be fun? Like, don't be weird. like And the other one, it's embarrassing to learn in public.
Speaker: I think a big one, because obviously music is such a big part of church, is it's such a hard one where there is a certain level of, like, polishedness and a level of skill you do need to have, particularly if you're going to be on the music team, because you not being good at your instrument or your singing can be very distracting and very, like, not helpful to the congregation for sort of, you know, communal worship. But then it's also that thing of, you know, if I'm making a joyful noise to the Lord and I'm used, like, is that...
Speaker: That can't be bad, but it is it's I find that a real hard thing in because I've been to some churches that are like, yeah, we do auditions. You have to be up to a certain standard to be on the music team. And then I've been i've i've been in other music teams where it's like whoever's give that random lady a tambourine, sure, whatever.
Speaker: And like there's pros and cons to both. And I think you can probably. Have you seen that or real? Both, but I, there's, there's definitely like both people have points. Cause I think there is a certain amount of like, we want to give God our best. We want to have excellence. Like I'm talking mostly about music because music is a real big thing at church as we know.
Speaker: But, and I don't know what the answer is. Cause I think, yeah, yeah. I mean, I suppose the answer to everything is always the heart behind it. But yeah, it's a hard one. I'm going to contribute something very serious, which is there is a reel.
Speaker: Yeah. And it's like, guys, don't be weird. I'm inviting a friend to church this week. I've seen that. The lady with the tambourine. They're just hollering. Yeah.
Speaker: yeah yeah Oh, yeah. ah've been I've been to that church. And I'm not to lie, the tambourine, it was pretty distracting. But we have, you know, the 90s were a weird time for church songs anyway, so that's fine.
Speaker: You know, in terms of like whether, um you know, spending time on music or, you know, doing wanting to do something well, do you reckon kind of perfectionism, sometimes not working on a skill if you're not actually sure you can do it well, like, there's a like you know, not being creative outwardly because you don't want to be criticised by other people? is a barrier in our culture. yeah You're and like worrying about what other people are thinking of us and also going like, don't want to put myself out there in that way. Like it's quite vulnerable to be creative yeah and to then put your creativity out there. Like you actually are being extremely vulnerable because you actually are expressing yourself differently.
Speaker: through your art, whether it's like music or, and, and you know, we could go down like this culture would say that's us being an individual. You do you. That's like, you know, the the whole, that yeah cultural framework. But in in the in in the Bible, we're also like encouraged because it's, yeah we are created as a diverse community with all different different gifts and talents that we contribute. And so it's kind of hard, but it is still hard to like, yeah, when you feel self-conscious about something that you're doing to share it. Yeah. the creative sphere.
Speaker: Well, because also you may actually not get a positive thing back. Like you're not guaranteed that people are going to enjoy your creativity no matter what your heart is behind it. Some people will might be like, maybe be creative a bit quieter. It is like it's a high risk. It's a high risk thing. Yeah.
Speaker: um Yeah. Like it's interesting to think about like also how do you be creative, like those creative gifts that are not so much like i'm I'm a musician and I'm at a certain standard.
Speaker: Like there's this ministry called Origin Collective and they're based out in Fremantle like and, you know, there's lots in – creative people there. But what's interesting is like once a year they run this conference.
Speaker: It's called like a faith and arts conference, but there's stuff that I have never considered. Like I went last year, there was like a dance workshop. There was a photography workshop, you know, there was writing, but there was like all other kinds of stuff and like live gigs, but just, you think there's lots of stuff that you wouldn't normally consider or tap as like, i mean, there was a massive art installation as well. Like huge ones all through the hall and paintings and Stuff that you wouldn't normally, yeah, consider in the mainstream service. Actually, that's funny you said that because I literally went to a like a community art show in the bush last week and it was like community artists made made art with stuff from the bush and some of our friends were like, we didn't we actually didn't know and we went there and some of our friends had made art and she'd made this massive hanging like bird out of bark and things and my son looked at it and it was really cool but he's like, how did you do that? She said, oh, if you look around the back, you can see how I connected everything. And she said, you know, I like to think of it like how God sees, you know, when we look at the tapestry, we see all the back and all the messed up strings. And then God sees the front and he sees the whole picture. And I was like, oh, my God. Like, that's, like, i it was really cool because i it was it was not a Christian event. It was a, like, council put on event and she had made this thing but then she, like, used her artistic creativity to make a thing that said something about God and the world and how she saw things. Yeah.
Speaker: And, you know, lots of people from the community came to see it and that it wasn't a Christian event, but then she was able to share that with people because of the art she had made. And it was real cool.
Speaker: Yeah, that's really cool. I definitely think that I remember talking to a friend of mine a while ago who just loves, loves art. And she was into more painting and drawing and and like visual arts. And she she, I remember her being like, how like, you know, how do I serve God?
Speaker: with art like you know it seems like something that's almost a bit you know like she's like sometimes it when I first got interested in doing art stuff it felt like a selfish hobby like it's for me so you know and she was saying that she really struggled to figure out how she could actually like she was wanting to actually worship with her skills in art and use it to glorify God.
Speaker: And in the end, she found a few different avenues with church. You know, she would should create designs for church. and There was pictures pictures at church. And also she ended up like serving people in YWAM as an art director. Like, it was really interesting. It was actually a whole art sphere and within the Christian world of YWAM. And I just, yeah, it was just super interesting because it's just, I am just not in touch with those worlds that were. But she was using her art in a way that was actually...
Speaker: remember her trying to think about how she could point use her art to not point people towards herself and her skills, but point people towards God and like the amazing world he has made. We are only creative because we reflect that we're made in God's image and God is creative. He made this whole world. like you know like He made everything in it. Yes.
Speaker: Yeah. And I think, yeah, that's, I think that's a, that's a very, I think, yeah, that's a really good point because in this whole conversation is that if you, you know, when we say, you know, you want to be creative and you're not necessarily that good at it, that's its own thing. But if you are creative and you happen to also be very talented, know,
Speaker: it is often you will get many compliments reported to you which is lovely. And then you go, well, what, okay, as a Christian and I want to use this to glorify God, what do I do with that? How do i manage this thing that's like a compliment to me, which is nice and the skill I have and and a talent I've been given and something I've worked on And then, but then you also, i you know, you don't want to weirdo and like, oh, report that compliment to God. Like he, you know, like you how do you do that in a, you know, authentic way?
Speaker: I just, when you guys are talking, what it really reminds me of, I interviewed Tennille Netter and she's one of our writers, but she also is like a musician, has recorded all these albums.
Speaker: And what was really interesting, she talked about like how she had become a Christian. So she had a recording career before that. I think she was on Australian Idol, but what she said, it was exactly what Maddie was saying. It was that like, it was always a reflection on her and like kind of the weight of that, but actually the shift into making this music and being able to like bring glory to God and like just what a difference that had made to like her her life and her enjoyment of it as well. And her enjoyment of the music, like it could be joyful and not crushing.
Speaker: Yeah, and it takes away from, us I guess, like, yeah, it's not that I bought this. It's not me. It's God. It's also like, oh thank you, God gave me this gift, and so I want to honour him with it. So you don't need to brush off compliments, but you also need to recognise that that's not your identity, that that is a gift. It's a bit like, you know, when we recognise we have resources, with we're good stewards of those resources, so whether that be our money, our time, Like we want to be good stewards of those things that, that,
Speaker: God has given us. And then it's just like that. It's like our artistic talents, like, you know, even like I love having people over and making a really nice meal. And like, I'm i'm kind of, my passion is doing salads. Like, so I do salads and meats, like, like just to separate, it but like just really interesting salads, like roast veggies and all. So, like and I just love being creative with that. And I love it when someone enjoys it, but it's like, again, it's not necessarily like, it's not like, I'm like, how good is it to share this together? because I like it too, you know? it's like like it but You're right. This is young. You get to share it.
Speaker: like yeah But it's not like, yeah, I know, I'm an amazing person. But it's like, how good is this food that God gives up? like yeah Yeah, sure. you Like we can point it that But I think it's like,
Speaker: I think it's that. I think God's like calls you to rejoice and like it can be as simple as that where like, oh my goodness, I didn't know that this could taste like this. Did you know if you combine these things? Like this is awesome or like, I mean, it it's that. Like you can just have that pure and utter enjoyment of like this is actually really great. Like it doesn't have to be.
Speaker: a worth barometer, you know what i mean Like, oh this is like defining who I am. You can just enjoy the cooking or the watercolor or the poetry because it's beautiful, because it's fun.
Speaker: That made me think of the, you know, i don't know what verse it is, but, you know, when Jesus said, I've come that you may have life and have it abundantly, because I think yeah it's a real, i mean, put also from sort of the church era and the church tradition that I was raised in was like a lot of Christian stuff is very solemn and very, like, contemplative and very serious. And not that there aren't a lot of serious things, but I think there's a joy is one of the fruits of the spirit. Like, we're allowed to have good time and, know,
Speaker: And I think potentially we have more potential to have the most good time because we like are connected to the source of the good times, you know, like. yes Yes. Yes. I'm doing my raise the roof hands. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: yeah yeah I really want to plug this book that I was talking about because off air. So like this, I've been reading this book. It has a terrible cover. It has a terrible name, but it is really excellent. It's called the hidden out of homemaking by a lady called Edith Schaefer. And her husband was like a famous preacher. I think he did a lot of books about like culture and philosophy. I don't even know.
Speaker: I want to say that I understand what he did, but that's all anyway, And this book is amazing. it It's not so much about homemaking, but it's about finding the creativity in the everyday and in like exactly that, like enjoying stuff. She's like, you know, you could draw, like, even if you don't have a talent for drawing, you can just draw your menu for the week.
Speaker: And so I've been drawing like these bistro style menus and they're just funny to like me and the kids. You're like, oh, happy hour for the children. all like That's awesome. Just, you know, all like, oh, yes, we have artisan style bread because I've like made bread and I'm ha, ha, ha, ha. And like, I love our garden. You know, like, oh, yes, I'm just all the ridiculously sounding restaurant language for my cheap husband. I love it. I saw a video of a lady who does like, I mean, obviously she's very good at drawing, but she literally does like little hidden paintings all around her house, like on like the back of a chair leg or like on a little. And she just has all these cute little like flowers and one's like a little mouse and stuff.
Speaker: And i was like, that's so fun because I love, I like weird stuff. Like my house is, I like to buy weird stuff from the op shop and like I have a snail like sculpture that hangs off one of my things and I have an ear sculpture that like sits next to one of my like lights. Next the snail sculpture. You would love with it. I was like, yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: You would love this book. It's on gardening and interior decoration and cooking. It's all stuff. In my I have um a thing from, you know, the Elven's, the um Even Star from from Lord of the Rings, Arwen's necklace that she gives. It's niche reference. Anyway, I have one of those.
Speaker: And then I have Feather from Forrest Gump and I got like all this stuff because I like weird stuff. and And people enjoy coming to my house because I got weird stuff for them to look at. It's conversation starters. Conversation starters. Exactly. Wonderful. It's so fun. Yeah.
Speaker: And I think I would like that book, but you are correct. I don't like the title of it.
Speaker: No. And like it's, yeah, it's not a homemaking book. Yeah. It's more like infusing creativity into the everyday, even if you're not particularly talented. was like, down for I think that's kind of what we were saying before of like life can be fun. Like it can be, like it's okay to have a good time and do silly things.
Speaker: I think we kind of covered a lot of this, but the next question is what are some gospel truths you can remember to help you pursue creativity and awe in your daily life? It's going to start as a ramble. But my son and i have been going on. We bushwalk every day because we walk my dog um every day. My four-and-a-half-year-old walks like 3Ks with me every day. He's amazing.
Speaker: And then we stop and we pick flowers. And then recently he's discovered some of the mushrooms that are coming out in the in the bush. like And just it's really interesting because between we come home and he's like got armfuls of all these different flowers. And all these like and we've like taken pictures, he's insisted on taking pictures of all the mushrooms that I've gone through. And yesterday, like we even watched a video about different types of mushrooms. Kind of funny, but Discovery Channel thing. Sure. but what it it made me think of this because i'm like wow, look at like the different shapes of the flowers, look at the different colours, look at the different like, look at the different ways that different mushrooms grow. Like I didn't know there were so many different types of mushrooms and some of them look like a normal mushroom that we have in our shops and some of them just look real weird. Like, you know, they've got some real coral-like looks yeah and they're vibrant colours or they're not. And I'm like, and I said to Asher, and I was like, what?
Speaker: God made all of these? Like, isn't that incredible? yeah He made all of these in all these different shapes and sizes and colours and just vibrant and creative. And like I'm thinking in the world of flowers and mushrooms right now, but there is like, there's worlds and worlds and worlds outside of that, of things that he has expressed his creator. And so all the Psalms are constantly saying, like, you know, just praising God in his creation Look at this, like this that he's made from the mountains to the seas. Like it's just, there's there's literally just praise psalms that are like, wow, in awe of God and his creation.
Speaker: And i think we can always think about that when we're thinking about creativity because we remember it's a reflection of our maker, which is really cool.
Speaker: yeah There's been a lot of joy in my hands around that. Cool. Mushrooms. Mushrooms are cool, man. As you were talking, it yeah Maddie, you reminded me of this quote, and you probably heard it from um GK Chesterton.
Speaker: So it says, because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, do it again. And the grown up person does it again until he's nearly dead.
Speaker: For grown up people are not strong enough to exalt in monotony, but perhaps God is strong enough to exalt in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, do it again to the sun and every evening, do it again to the moon.
Speaker: It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike. It may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that he has the entire the eternal appetite of infancy, for we have sinned and grown old and our father is younger than we.
Speaker: Wow. That's cool. That is super cool. I like it Put it in the show notes. Do it. that I think maybe that's, I know that probably a lot, a lot of the people who listen to this have kids and I mean, a lot don't, but I'm sure there's kids around you and there's kids in your church and things. Maybe that's a gospel truth we can take from this is that like, you know, the Bible says that God loves children and um you know, our faith is to be like that of a child. Maybe we need to spend some more time observing children and how they are creative without
Speaker: boundaries and like expectations of what they're going to make and how it's going to look and what people are going to think about it. And also be in awe of that. like Yeah. Like an awe of things. Like, wow, that's actually like. my kids came running in yesterday to me. They were so excited. They found a dove nest in our mulberry tree.
Speaker: Cool. And they're like, mum, like come now. We're close to see this. Yeah, that's cool, man. Yeah. of Yeah. Yeah, it's I'm not very amazed by, like, although the other day, actually, when I swam my laps at the pool, that yeah, in the outside pool. love unrighteous. Massive, oh usually love massive dump trees outside. And I was, like, trying to, actually, it was after I talked to you and Amy.
Speaker: whatever, can't remember what we talked about on the podcast. And I was like, that's I need to like experience the world more. And I literally just sat and like looked at the trees moving in the wind. It's like, that's like, cool.
Speaker: That's just like the moment of like, that's the thing. Like i so I can't, I can't see it, but I can feel it. That thing of like the wind and it takes the trees. And it was just like, this was a, it was a thing. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. And it was small and I think that's probably what I need to do in my day-to-day life is like it needs to be small things because if I try to do too much, it just won't. But, yeah, it was like a small profound thing in my day. It's like, yeah, wow, that's really powerful and like impressive, the trees that have been that moving that moves them, you know.
Speaker: Yeah, so cool. Yeah. Yeah. I love it. It's those tiny me things. Yeah. And having, know in the first year of being around kids, but like having kids...
Speaker: You know, I was pointing out things and I remember just being like, third bird, gala bird, bird. And I was like, oh these birds are really different. ah like And so I had to just start leaving names of birds, like a bit like now the flowers.
Speaker: And it's been really amazing. Yeah, just again, like just reflecting on God's creation. Yeah. And just sitting there and actually watching it, like putting your phone away and like actually taking it. Cause then we're reminded that there's creativity all around us and yeah, that it's okay to have a joy in the creative things that we do, that it doesn't have to be productive. Because I think the other thing about creativity is when we were, when we remember that it's a that our ability to take joy in the beauty of things, whether our art, our music, those other joys, like our cooking, the joys that we have, they're not a work.
Speaker: And it's not necessarily a productive thing. It's a... It's something where we get to stand back and be in awe of the creation like and, you know, recognizing where our creativity comes from.
Speaker: And just I think that's like that's one of the things that the gospel can definitely speak into because it reminds us of that we are creatures who reflect our creator. Yeah. And that even God was delighted in us to be able to to even send his son to come as a man, you know, to actually enjoy the creation too.
Speaker: And then, you know redeem us, redeem the whole creation, not just people. But, you know, the whole creation going to be renewed. Yeah. Just one thing I was going to mention, and I might have touched on it a bit, Rach, when we talked in the frontline mental health episode.
Speaker: like get winy Like my last role before I went on before I had my last son, was in private practice. And one of the things i used I would get to see is people would get well and you would know that it was coming by those really small things where they're like, i'm I cooked a meal but like something more elaborate than to toast or I went outside and I looked at the trees or, you know, I like to do watercolours and I have been painting and you would see it and you think,
Speaker: Joy is coming back. You think if you're really depressed, like you can't enjoy anything. Like without God, there is no enjoyment. you a crushed spirit, like who can bear? But I don't know why that is. And I have tried like asking lecturers and all kinds of people being like, why do you think this is? But like, i just think, isn't that fascinating? If God's made us, I don't know. Yeah.
Speaker: And I think I often, i used to, I probably used to a lot more, but I, when I'm at work is that like so sometimes I stop and and you think about like the the sheer amount of creativity that went into the mechanism of the human body and all those things. It's so intricate and so like perfectly balanced And I just don't think about it enough because I just get, you know, you think about tasks and stuff, but you just think the amount of like things that work together to make this this amount of people be functioning and then also they don't just function, they also can then do things like play the piano and and paint and do all these other, it's not just a machine that works, it's a machine that also can also create things
Speaker: Yeah, like even that like, you know, we take one blood test and it tells you all every all these things that are in some blood. And if one thing's off, it has a mass function on the rest of it But you're like, it's all magical.
Speaker: And we don't appreciate it much. It all works. You don't appreciate it, but it doesn't work. Yeah, it's so i cool. yes It is cool, man. Yeah. yeah And how cool is it that like, you know, when you do learn a new skill, your brain like rewires, like, you know, like it lays down new synapses and stuff. Like actually God's created us that way so that you can actually make new. Anyway.
Speaker: Yeah. Just so cool. Yeah. Rachel, I feel like you appreciate this. I came across this lady. saw her on Instagram, but I've listened to her podcast. Oh, no, I sent it to you guys in the group chat.
Speaker: Oh, and she's called like the Faithfield Therapist. Yeah, I'll put it in the show notes. You can't be worried and worship at the same time. So like worship and thinking about like God's love releases oxytocin.
Speaker: And I might get this wrong. I think it's the anyway it's the rest and digest system that it activates. But you can't have like the cortisol system, they're like, we're in danger system, be activated at the same time. And she said, actually, meditating on God's love physically changes your brain. your amygdala, like the smoke alarm, like this is dangerous, becomes less reactive. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: And your prefrontal cortex, which is like you making good and wise decisions, like thickens. So the more that you kind of are like, God really loves me and look at what he made and look how amazing this is.
Speaker: Like it actually changes you and your brain. Yeah, wow. That's cool. Yeah. Yeah. It's like the body and like, yeah. Yeah. It's almost like he's way smarter than us and we kind of don't see the whole picture.
Speaker: that um Yeah. Your thoughts are above my thoughts. your ways are greater than my ways. I feel that still tight in my bones. yeah Absolutely. yeah It's also just that like, you know, he gives prayers he gives us even more than we could ask or imagine. It's like actually just that amazing, we can't even fathom the depths and even our creative side can't even really grasp what what God is like and what God has in store for us. Yeah, it's just pretty amazing.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker: And the last thing that I just, I have been thinking about recently, but it's like we're so obsessed with what we're doing and productive and optimizing every minute and all of that. And we're like, we don't really have time for hobbies.
Speaker: But it worries me about like where we go as a society, if that's ultimately what we think of, because you think at either side, Young people, old people, people with disabilities, like I think our society just says that doesn't matter because it's not productive. You know, like you're you're a burden. We shouldn't have to deal with this.
Speaker: But I just feel like in some way it's all connected in with like You know creativity is so beautiful almost to be, know, you would say it's pointless and why is it there? But you're like, it makes such a difference in our lives and how beauty points us to God.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. How cool is it that we're not just like, I'm going to say ants, but I'm sure there is creativity in ants. But, you know, like like we're just not, fun we're not just functioning machines, but we are created as things that can take joy in the beauty.
Speaker: We could have been created as like functional machines that just, you know, are there to to look after the world and do these jobs. But actually we're creatures then designed and created to enjoy and be gifted and appreciate the beauty in the world around us too.
Speaker: yeah And I speak, I think that speaks that in itself speaks to the abundance of God of like, even big his nature, he would create things that would also create, like it's, it's the, like in his abundance, he would not make something that is boring and just a rope. He wouldn't like it.
Speaker: You know, we don't often, I don't know if we think of ourselves in that, in those contexts, but you go, well, we are the created thing. And yeah, we reflect the creator, but like his abundance also flows from us of that. You know, we can't, it helps like creativity comes out.
Speaker: Yeah. Cool. All right. Well, we're almost It's a beautiful picture. Last thing. Yeah, it is a beautiful picture. And I think we don't, we often, this is a good thing about this podcast is it's made me think about stuff that I don't think about that much.
Speaker: But in in light of that, our last question, which is we've answered a lot of it, but if you have any other things, is um on a practical level, how do you or how would you want to in the future pursue creativity and awe in your life more?
Speaker: Sometimes it's really hard to find the time to do things like make a really nice meal and experiment with things or i would do the other hobby of like watercolours, haven't done in so long. But on like a practical, pursuing creativity, I think it's more like appreciating the creativity, like a bit what I've kind of spoken about before.
Speaker: Even my walks can sometimes just be like we're walking the dog and then we've got to go out, so hurry up. But like actually stopping and taking awe in what's around us and actually just being reminded that that's okay because it's a form in which we, you know, we appreciate the world that God has given us and, yeah, the amazing creativity with which he's made it.
Speaker: Yeah, that's that's my one. o I think I just had a thought that in what I said before of like maybe in like complimenting or noticing creativity in other people, then like attributing that to God to them, particularly in the church of like, you know, I could, I, in that thing that you've made, whatever it may be, i was like, that's awesome. And I can see,
Speaker: it come from like a place of glorifying God. you know what i mean Like complimenting that rather than, yeah I think I would love for someone to see, to to see like Christ in me it through creativity and then to maybe talk about it in that way rather than great job doing that thing.
Speaker: you know what I mean? In like just in the vein of like noticing creativity rather than just being creative. I think it's that. I think what you're both getting at is it's gratitude.
Speaker: It's ultimately, you know, even if you don't have time to do the thing, you can look at what God has made and be like, wow, like have you seen that spider orchid? Like that's only in a very specific area and it's only this time of year. um and Like look, he's a beautiful spider orchid.
Speaker: And even if you can't create, like you can take a moment like outside the pool and be like, wow, look at those trees and look at them sway. Yeah. Wow. Thanks, God. Like that's just beautiful.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And appreciating it with others. Yeah. Yeah. Having a buddy. Yeah, and pointing it out to others as well, I think, because i yeah it can be so helpful to just, like, if you can reframe your thoughts and then help others to do the same. Because sometimes you're like, oh, yeah, like, that's helped. It rubs off, doesn't it? It does. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: And, yeah, it does. All right, well, maybe that's our task. i think it completes the joy. Yeah. now I think it does. Like, a joy shared is like, it's like it's kind of completed, you know.
Speaker: So I made Zach plant just like proteas and it took ages for them to come out. But then like when I could see a protea growing, I was like texting pictures of it to like Zach and like my friend Stacy. was like, look, here's I have proteas in the garden.
Speaker: And something about, I don't know, just completed. I was like, I'm excited and I'm grateful, but I'm also like, yeah. Did you see this? Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. That's cool. It's not really good stuff.
Speaker: Oh, so we've decided that creativity is good, God is good, and we shall move forward with that. Agreed? Yeah. Lovely. Grand old summary.
Speaker: good All right. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next time. Bye.
Speaker: That's it from us, friends. We hope you enjoyed today's episode. And if you did, you can sign up to our free weekly newsletter called Stories I'd Tell You at Dinner. So you get essays, poetry, podcast episodes, everything, photo essays straight to your inbox on Wednesdays from March to November from Christian Women in Western Australia.
Speaker: If you'd like that, the link is in the show notes. Thanks for listening, guys. you.
