"Be Creative!"  In an attempt to navigate what it takes to be a vibrant faith community in modern times, many of us in church leadership are yearning to figure out what it actually means to 'be creative'. We may feel that our ability to tap into a deep well of imagination is thwarted by institutional mandates to maintain theological correctness, be sensitive to what is deemed  appropriate by our present membership and devote time and energy to keeping track of metrics. How can we 'be creative' when we are too busy, worn out and beat up?

'Being creative' is a way of life that is grounded in the ever-present yet ever-surprising movement of the Spirit. It requires a daily rhythm that includes quiet-time, allowing for imaginative pondering and the emergence of fresh ideas. The creative life involves not only a deep yearning for revival, but the intentional designing of our schedules so that we are regularly liberated to think differently. Most significantly, 'being creative' involves an unflinching willingness to experiment and fail.

How can you shift your own mindset and lifestyle so as to allow a new kind of creativity to infuse your ministry?

"Enlightened leadership is spiritual if we understand spirituality not as some kind of religious dogma or ideology but as the domain of awareness where we experience values like truth, goodness, beauty, love and compassion, and also intuition, creativity, insight and focused attention."
~Deepak Chopra