"The results of our creativity should not define us but reflect who we are as humans created in God's image." Joe Underwood
God, the ultimate creator, has instilled a spark of His creativity in us. This creative impulse, a testament to His love, is woven into the very fabric of our lives. Whether it finds expression in the art forms we love—music, literature, photography- or other ways, our creativity is a source of joy and inspiration.
The first thing He created was light, which illuminates all of creation. I capture images as Slices of Time: images of Today, Reflections of Yesterday, and Tomorrow—these slices of time attempt to capture a sense of presence and place. My writing attempts to capture and record the people and places that have been a part of my life, and once finished, whether a photograph or a piece of writing, they are fixed in time—time and space that are contained within God's eternity and creativity.
I attempt to capture those moments in time, whether in nature, the faces of humanity, or the things that humanity has created, as reflections of God expressed through creativity. Images and stories that transcend the lies of politics, social or economic repression, empty religious gibberish and activities, fleeting fashion, mass entertainment, and many other methods of demeaning the precious gift of life given to each person by God our Father.
Let's not just passively observe the world around us. Let's actively seek God in all of nature and humankind. As Henri Cartier Bresson beautifully put it, let's strive to capture 'the moment and its eternity' with our ever-attentive eyes.
Do not look only with your eyes but also with your heart. Then, photograph and write (or whatever you do) with your heart on your sleeve. You and the remainder of humanity will be better for it.
Remember to see the humorous, quirky, offbeat oddities in life's journey. If they bring a smile to you, it will put a smile on someone else's face and make their journey lighter.
Last but certainly not least, never give glory to your creative efforts or anyone else's. Give God our Father, the giver of all gifts, all the glory for gifts.