CREATING OUT OF ONE'S PASSION

http://www.etheldrayton-craig.com

     I am inspired by older individuals who have begun new careers and vocations late in Life and who have a zeal for living, learning and creating well into their 80s and 90s.  With patience and enthusiasm, they hone a new craft and exhibit mastery on hobbies that require skill like art and music.

     I have become enthused by a digital journaling class that has me taking my camera with me daily for practice.  In addition to weekly classes, the small group goes out to various locations for photo shoots together.  As we are beginning to study the styles of renowned photographers to establish our personal preferences, after a shoot this weekend, the group spent time together in the library perusing the oversized photography books by such legends.

     Several of these photographers have carried their passion for creating across fields and across media over a lifetime of hardships, accomplishments, and opportunities while diligently learning how to apply and expand their craft – producing and creating out of their passion well into their late 80s and 90s.

     In sharpening the vision in my mind’s eye to the outward print, I have had several personal “aha” moments regarding my Life by engaging in this process of photographing, making prints, studying the qualities of the print, and journaling with words and pictures - my daily experiences.  I invite you to contemplate two questions I have posed to myself in the process:

1.    My creativity comes from where and goes where?

2.    What is the next stretch – what will personally stretch me to the next level?

© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010

SURRENDER

http://dretheldrayton-craig.com/

Years ago I took off to spend a considerable length of time in France, exploring the country at my leisure while driving and lingering where I pleased, for as long as I pleased.

I envisioned this trip to be a real adventure of going with the flow and being in the moment. I purposely did not plan hotel reservations and expected to call ahead as I went along. I also took a quick course in driving stick shift for the leased vehicle on order for my arrival.

Little did I know how much of an adventure awaited me: I arrived at the start of a national holiday when most countrymen vacation. It took some doing to find lodging for the first 4 days. My vehicle came with an instruction manual in French and German, and my rusty French was not ready for translating mechanical terminology. My car stalled often because I had not mastered the clutch. I barely knew where I was going because of the language barrier. Smoke and the smell of something electrical emanated from my dashboard on the first afternoon. On the third day, someone pointed out that my gas tank was releasing droplets of gasoline – which scared me sufficiently well after he indicated that the car could explode from a spark. Given this was a long holiday weekend, I could not service my vehicle until I could get to a city on the southern coast several days later.

Need I say that I was a distraught bundle of nerves and full of fear with all of these issues weighing on me? In addition, the exorbitant speed of vehicles on the autoroute was enough to frighten the stripes off a tiger.

I was wrought with worry that a spark might ignite the car. So many days of worry left me with no appetite. I could not take another minute of the stress. While driving, I remember calling out to God and saying aloud, “Maybe this car is going to blow up. Maybe I am going to crash because all of these speeding cars. I cannot stand another minute of this fright. But if this is your plan, so be it! It will happen while I am driving to the Riviera, because that is where I am headed!”

Then something happened. I heard a voice say, “There is that in me that is greater than that in the world.” Also, “God has given me dominion over all things.”

I was shocked to hear it and inspired by these biblical references (1 John 4:4 and Gen. 1:26).  I became new. With this revelation I reminded myself that there was that in me that created the asphalt, the rubber tires, and the metal car! All along I was giving dominion to these things that were created by man and I was letting them run me!

I was new. My spirit was new. No more fear, no more worry. I just let go and knew that God was in charge. From that moment, things got better. I got to each destination with ease. I stopped worrying about the highway signs. I had the best lodging throughout my stay in splendid locations. The trip was so much better after I surrendered to God to take care of things for me. What a lesson.


© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010

PEOPLE I HAVE KNOWN

http://etheldrayton-craig.com/



I sat quietly Sunday morning listening to the chorus of birds chirping from the trees in the neighborhood. Rachmaninov and Chopin piano concertos played softly in the background. All were still. There were no motors revving over lawns. Children were still inside and there was quiet. In the stillness I began to think about people I have known and what they have done to add to my Life.

I decided to list their names and next the name, write what it is/was in the relationship that I appreciate and for which I have gratitude.

One friend came to mind because whenever I think of her and envision her in my mind’s eye, I think “joy, light, kindness, and love towards others”. She makes strangers and people who work in the capacity of serving, feel worthy.

What I hold dear is the living demonstration this person is for me to not take others for granted and to take time to add words of kindness and conversation to those whom I can overlook in my haste to complete a transaction.

This person has a remarkable gift that is brought to others. That is why it is uplifting to be in her radiant presence.

This week, I invite you to think about those individuals who have added to your Life and to practice awareness of others with whom you are in contact. Add a blessing to them in your interaction.



© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010

THE VALUE OF WHAT YOU SAY

http://www.etheldrayton-craig.com/


When my son was younger and was directed by me to do something, occasionally he would ask, “Why?” There were times when I would give him a reason and at other times I would respond, “Because I said so.” I might have added, “And for no other reason!”

Such it is with Life, you command your thoughts and actions and you go where your thoughts take you. There are days when we would rather not do something because we don’t feel like it. There may be times that we would rather do something else but we said that we would do an activity with someone. What to do?


There is power in doing what you said you would do – holding to the integrity of your word. People learn that they can count on you and you learn that you can count on you….because you said so.


This can be a useful tool to get something done when you rather not, or to elevate your mood when you rather give in and give up. Give yourself a command that positively states a desired outcome, or describes how you would like to feel.  Because you said so, and for no other reason, do what is necessary to bring about the desired outcome. It may take practice, yet after a short time, you are likely to notice that you can leverage low ambition or desire into fruitful outcomes.

© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010

ENJOY YOUR BLESSINGS

http://www.etheldrayton-craig.com/



I was a keynote speaker this past weekend at a church women’s luncheon. In that speech, I explored daily practices that would encourage their spirit and ensure execution of their authority in the Kingdom of God so that they could produce the things they desired in their lives for the glory of the Lord.

In the list of things was my suggestion to: Enjoy the things with which you have been Blessed.


I asked, “What things do you own that you never use? Why? For what are you saving them? Do you own things that you find are too good to use? Finally, “What does that say about how you value yourself, or your trust in the Lord’s ability to add to you and to give you increase?”


I spoke about my grandmother who had a long, rose colored chenille bathrobe that was kept in a mysterious hall closet with a skeleton key, when I was a child. She would say, “That robe is for when I get sick.” Or, “in case I have to go to the hospital (she wanted to look good).”


She was basically in good health during her Life, yet, about once a year she would take to the bed with her rose robe and be ill for 3 or 4 days, with moaning, upset stomach, and everyone tending to her. The robe would never be used the rest of the year.


In her later years, it went with her to the hospital for the various times she had eye surgery – and she would moan and get into character of being really sick. Likewise, she had sets of towels that never got used because they were “for company”, or they were “for display”.


What do you have that could add to the fullness of your Life that is locked in a closet, on display in the china closet, or wrapped somewhere and out of sight?


You can’t recapture today.


© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010

WHEN THE BEST THING TO DO IS NOTHING

http://www.etheldrayton-craig.com/



Every so often I notice that I run into an extended period where things break and require repair – with altered daily routines that invariably throw me off-track. There are complications with business transactions, contracts, and accounts during this time period and there are external delays for promised goods, services, or whatever is needed.

Over the past two weeks, I have experienced several of these in addition to the revelation that an out-of-state relative was ill, but uncooperative to any intervention and assistance from others. While action for him was required, no action could be taken except speculative communication by and among extended family members scattered about various states.


It felt that every avenue was blocked to me during this time period. While necessary steps to get things repaired were underway, it was going to take a week. Projects were on hold because necessary input from others was not forthcoming. There were two disappointments with business endeavors, and so on. I even began to notice how frequently my path was blocked while driving during this period. Frequently, road repairs required detours that added to my drive time. I noticed that although I was driving in a relaxed manner and not rushing, a vehicle would turn into the road just before me and go at a much slower pace. I understood, with a smile on my face.

I have been here before. It is frustrating to say the least. There were moments during this time that I expressed my anger, as well. There were moments of sadness at the impact some of these events had, and there was quiet laughter at the spectacle of the whole thing – because I understood. Most of all, there was a lot of prayer, quiet time, a declaration that God was working things out in His own time, and there was the morning last week that I realized, “The best thing I can do today is nothing about any of these things: absolutely nothing.”

I did not attempt to do any business or solve any problems, and I let others handle what they needed to handle. I took a mental vacation and spent the day outdoors. I planted flowers and walked in the park. In the evening, I went to the mall to browse, came home and watched television, then went to bed early. Each day since then I took a break from doing business projects and filled my days with relaxing activities. Already, three things have resolved themselves.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing.


© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010

WORDS MATTER

http://www.etheldrayton-craig.com/



I am reminded this morning that words matter. The very young children at our church service put on a lovely musical to complement the sermon. One of the songs they sang said that words matter. Just yesterday, I read something by Julia Cameron who has written several books on creativity. She, too, stressed that words matter.


It is important to us to be diligent in the words we choose because we try not to offend others in how we communicate. Yet, it is more important that we show due diligence in our words because we are vulnerable to our own descriptions of events, actions, and situations. Self-talk can especially damage our esteem and limit how we play in the game of Life. Words have pejorative connotations and perspectives that easily render us defeated before we rise to the occasion of challenge.


In working with numerous colleagues in grass roots community endeavors, it is amazing to watch an individual become confused, fearful, unable to provide leadership, break down and back out at the last minute before an event or presentation, and show limited creative solutions to problems – all because of the frequent statements of “I can’t” to express doubt and fear.


We certainly want to be kind to others in our use of words. However, we really need to be kind to ourselves with how we label and describe situations. It can mark the distinction between effort vs. struggle; power vs. ineffectiveness; clarity vs. confusion; hope vs. defeat.


“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)


© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010