creative writing, what do you picture when you hear that? you picture writing that is going to have lots of creative stuff in it of course!
mmm there might be other stuff you consider as well but when i first signed up to take this class, i was excited because i like to write and explore in writing and i had a feeling this class would take me there. and take me there it did! in fact, it took me even further than i imagined!
this class has been very insightful. the professor is not a christian but the things that she says can really parallel to christian terms and ideas and meanings. she talks a lot about allowing oneself to flow freely and to not hold back. the biggest point she has made so far is about being honest. about willing to be "naked" in front of people and bare all. she talked about the difference between nude and naked and now nude is seen as more polite and artsy while as naked is shocking, truthful, and even offensive at times.
i like to think of myself as an honest person. someone who doesn't lie because it's a sin. of course i am not perfect and i never consider myself anything near that. but, i like to try my best to abide by the rules.
anywho, as we were exploring this in creative writing [this=honesty&nakedness], i realized there is a lot i hold back from. i have a lot of fear. i like to think i don't and that i can get over what i need to but sometimes it's so natural that i don't realize i am clothing myself with lies. or that i am holding tightly onto my clothes and not allowing myself to be sincere and unfeigned.
this class has really started to move me forward in that direction. it's like pushing me on the diving board to get closer to the edge. my professor went out on a big leap herself and bared her soul in front of us. she shared what she really struggles with and shared painful childhood memories. she allowed herself to go past nude so that we could understand what she is trying to teach us. so that we could do the same and be brave enough to set ourselves free.
i have respect for how she was able to so honestly speak in front of 270 students that she does not know and that she might never see again. she is that passionate about teaching and helping us learn. i don't see how i can not be moved and want to follow.
being brave is never a natural talent. it is something one must learn. it is something one must push themselves to do in order to be great. but in my case, i don't want to be great. i want the Lord's greatness to shine. i want to push myself to be great in Him and for Him.
i've been doing a lot of reflecting as i'm preparing for our class project at the end where we have to write a story about our life. it has to be a story that is only about us. a story that is complicated. a story that breaks the barrier that holds in all the emotions and that will allow it to spill forth like a fountain. ah, did you catch that? i'm trying to use more description, another thing creative writing has taught me. details and specifics helps bring the reader into the writer's life.
there's so much more to be said about what is being learned in this class but that would be an even longer post than this is already turning out to be. stay tuned for more updates and i'll probably be practicing some stuff i want to put into practice from class.
thank God for our unique creativity and our own personal stories that can not match anyone else. He INTENTIONALLY gives us our very own journey to walk through so that we can never get bored of meeting people and so that we can give Him glory in a million + more ways ;O)
