Lisa Notes: What is it?

What is it?

We pick up rules before we have a chance to question them.
~ ELLEN LANGER, Mindfulness

What is this? *

(a) wet/dry hand block sander
(b) cigarette roller
(c) miniature dog sled
(d) grill and bacon press

We called it the Liar's Game. An unusual object was placed in the front of the room. Four people would explain—confidently but contradictorily—what the object was and its use, only one of which was accurate. The crowd would vote on the correct use.

We didn't know we were practicing mindfulness.

Are you creative? Then you're also mindful. So says Ellen Langer in chapter 7—“Creative Uncertainty”—of Mindfulness.

Much of creativity is in asking questions, looking for new ways of doing things, finding unusual uses for usual objects, not automatically accepting the status quo.

When I travel, I pack clothespins. Not to hang up clothes (although occasionally I’ll drip-dry a swimsuit) but because I'll need to play “What is it?”.
• Curtains don’t meet to block out the light? The clothespin becomes a curtain-closer.
• Didn't eat all the popcorn? The clothespin becomes a bag clip.
• Got a buggy computer cord that has to be held just so (I hope this never happens to you)? The clothespin becomes a cord-holder.

I long to create. Because it's part of God in me. It's part of being made in his image. It's part of knowing him more, showing him more.

If I fail to exercise that part of me, I fail to be in touch with that part of God.
I want to touch all of God I can.

And I also want you to.
Because I can't see all aspects of God. Neither can you.

But we can see more of God together than we can see alone.

When Bach was asked how he found his melodies, he said, “The problem is not finding them, it's—when getting up in the morning and getting out of bed—not stepping on them.”

As God breathes creative expressions into your soul, nurture them; don’t smother them.

You may not create piano masterpieces or paint great works of art, but you can...
• approach scripture with an open mind.
• Or worship with a new mode of expression.
• Or see God in a place you’ve never seen him before.

Or write a blog post.

We can create.
We can be mindful.
We can share God.

* What was it?

(b) My grandfather’s Brown and Williamson Cigarette Roller

~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~

Thanking God for his gifts of creative grace, # 419-435

~ a workable reading plan...authors I learn from
~ really enjoying book 3 of H.P.
~ time to write
~ yard sales...Krispy Kreme doughnuts
~ Thursday night piano playing...worship through fingers
~ short haircuts
~ invention of Skype...a niece in NY to Skype with
~ voices of Freely...Bethany Dillon...Shane and Shane
~ watching movies with Jenna...home alone with Jeff
~ the God who continues to create

* * *

Did you guess the object correctly?

How do you practice your creativity?

Join in the conversation at The High Calling on creative uncertainty.

Comments (16)

Logging you in...

Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout

Logged in as

+1 Vote up Vote down

lauraboggess 49p · 699 weeks ago

What a delightful post, Lisa! I recognized the cigarette roller from one my dad used to have when I was a kid, but I loved entertaining the other options. It's so cool that you could identify in this way with what Langer talks about in this chapter. I think i might have to start a version of that Liar's game in our household! Sounds like a lot of fun.
My recent post Playdates with God: Parade

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

My husband had to tell me what the cigarette roller was, even though it was from my side of the family. ha. He paid more attention when my dad told the story than I did. But I do remember my grandfather rolling cigarettes by hand, when I was a very young girl. It’s one of the few memories I still have of him.

+1 Vote up Vote down

barbarah 65p · 699 weeks ago

Have you ever played Balderdash? It's a similar idea only with words and definitions rather than objects -- someone draws a word, several people give a definition, only one of which is right, then everybody has to guess which is the right one.

I used to think people either were creative or not, and I didn't think I was very much, but then I learned, as you said, that creativity can manifest itself in various ways -- it's not always crafty or artistic, as most people think of it. I'm so glad God included that aspect of His person when He made us!
My recent post The Week In Words

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

I love Balderdash. We also had a home-made version of that we called Fictionary Dictionary (or something like that). I always love word games. :-)

I’ve definitely broadened my definition of creativity through the years, too, and pulled myself more into it. I had a great aunt who would always make the most unusual gifts out of bleach bottles or whatever she had around the house. We never knew when we visited her what we would receive. She was an example of a creative gift-maker.

0 Vote up Vote down

Glynn · 699 weeks ago

I like the direction you took the discussion of this chapter in. I did guess it was a cigarette roller - only because of the Brown & Williamson on the roller itself.
My recent post Bad Boy of the Book Discussion

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

Langer never intimated the direction I took, but it’s my creative license to take it where I want to, right? :-) It’s been interesting to read the different reactions from this chapter. That’s a good thing.

+1 Vote up Vote down

annkroeker 35p · 699 weeks ago

I remember the Liar's Club. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fLRgl4F2sE My mom was really good, because she used to write a newspaper column on antiques and knew a lot of the weird items they would bring on the show.

Love your clothespin solutions! It's funny that I mentioned clothespins in my piece, as well, because you and I both know it COULD be a clothespin or it COULD be a drapery holder (etc.).
My recent post Could Be

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

Thanks for the link, Ann. How interesting to see that clip!

My husband and brother-in-law were always very good at this game too—and they happen to come from an antiquing family, so maybe there’s a connection there, similar to your mom….

I caught your clothespin reference, too. Great minds and all that. :-)

+1 Vote up Vote down

highheartedly 15p · 699 weeks ago

Cool. Yes, I wrote a post today. In the face of failing to do so yesterday, dropping the ball so to speak on my 31 days of...thing. Grace? If I can give it to others but not myself...so I did.
Glad you're there, thanks for writing!

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

Definitely show yourself some grace. You were probably creating in your mind yesterday even if you didn’t get it published. :-)

0 Vote up Vote down

floyd · 699 weeks ago

Awesome reminder of what we were gifted for. Quite inspirational. Thanks. I was actually thinking it was a cigarette roller! (My grandpa had one!)

+1 Vote up Vote down

cindeesniderre 25p · 699 weeks ago

Lisa, I love your words, "I long to create." Me too! It's where I see, understand, grasp a little bit more of God, who He is, who I am in Him. And I think you're right, together we see more of God. I've been exploring community in depth -- what it means to "be" the Body, to do life together -- and this morning, you fleshed out yet another vital element, a beautiful illustration of Scripture -- some are hands, some feet, some eyes, each expressing something unique, different, another subtle dimension of almighty God. Thank you!

1 reply · active 699 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Lisa notes 103p · 699 weeks ago

Cindee,
I’m glad you see what I’m saying too. Creating is such a spiritual act of God.

Your study of community sounds good. It always amazes me how God can take a bunch of random people and turn us into a family, fit together just right. He is awesome.

+1 Vote up Vote down

momentcherished 62p · 699 weeks ago

this is amazing, and I can so relate!! Thank you for sharing. Your blog is just lovely!

0 Vote up Vote down

The Brown Recluse · 699 weeks ago

Very, very good post! I've never thought about my creativity as being made in His image....but it makes perfect sense.

(And I thought the thing was a block sander...I immediately said, "Well, I know it's not a cigarette roller!") Show what all I know!
My recent post Vacation Last Year....

1 reply · active 698 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Lisa notes 103p · 698 weeks ago

My daughter said 'block sander' first. I had NO idea. ha. My husband had to tell me what my dad had told him. My grandfather died when I was in third grade so I don't recall ever watching him use this thing.

I am SO glad that God spread out his creativity among us in so many different ways. It makes the world so interesting and beautiful.

Have a blessed week!
My recent post Avoid burnout: Introduce uncertainty