The Perfect Storm

As creatives, enough cannot be said about inspiration, where it comes from, and how to have the input to ideate and the output to create. We need the right moment, the right mood, and often, just the right atmosphere.

I remember before my first born arrived a dear Pastor telling me that I would need to be intentional about carving out time, not only to commune with the Lord, but also to continue with my writing and music. As our family grew, margin would shrink. Three children later, I know those words to be true!

At first, I kept trying to look for the right moment. I kept trying to find quiet. I longed for the perfect symmetry of time, space, and atmosphere with which to write, sing, and play my guitar. Those moments were hard fought and often meant that I would have to leave the house.

It wasn’t long before I realized that it wasn’t about finding the perfect time as much as it was about being able to function well in the storm that was our daily life with very small people in our care.

I didn’t need the perfect environment or perfect set of circumstances. And neither did Jesus. His ministry included many messy situations. Crowds of hungry people, literal storms, a man being dropped to him through a roof, and starting his earthly life in a box that domestic livestock ate out of.

No, none of it was ideal, but it didn’t make him ineffective.

When I finally surrendered to my situation, it looked like playing worship music on my bluetooth speaker while we all got dressed in the morning, making scripture verse cards for my bathroom mirror with my eldest, and reading my bible and drinking my coffee at the kitchen table while the kids watched Peppa Pig.

No matter what, I can rest in the words of Psalm 103:17-18

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.