Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:12 AMP)
“Some people seem to think that I began by asking myself how I could say something about Christianity to children; then fixed on the fairy tale as an instrument; then collected information about child-psychology and decided what age-group I’d write for; then drew up a list of basic Christian truths and hammered out “allegories” to embody them. This is all pure moonshine. I couldn’t write in that way at all. Everything began with images, a faun carrying an umbrella, a queen on a sledge, a magnificent lion. At first there wasn’t even anything Christian about them; that element pushed itself in of its own accord. It was part of the bubbling.”* – C. S. Lewis on writing The Chronicles of Narnia
In a creative process led by the Holy Spirit – whether writing, composing music, choreography, drawing, or a host of other things – the creator often talks of what C.S. Lewis called the “bubbling.” The creative process may have many ideas or wisps of creativity, but what eventually comes to be the finished product, comes out of the things that “bubble up” from within us. A few notes that catch the composer’s attention – a rhyme or alliteration that leads a writer to a whole scene – a combination of lines and colors that begin the entire painting – all these small ideas lead to the full completion of the creativity.
Similar to “bubbling up” in the creative process is what I have heard others call “highlighting” in the world of faith. Recently, a friend made a comment about how the Lord had “highlighted” something to her in order to get her attention and say something to her. I realized that is something that happens within me, too – I will see a scripture verse and understand that the Holy Spirit is “highlighting” it to me. I never had a word for this process, but definitely understand how I choose one verse over another. The Holy Spirit gently helps you focus on where to go next to direct the whole process.
Today, let us listen carefully to the bubbling up with us and the highlighting of the Holy Spirit.
Creating God,
Thank you for whispering ideas into our spirits, for giving us clues as to what you want us to create, and for highlighting the next steps in the process. May we carefully tend to the Holy Spirit within us so that we can recognize when you are “bubbling up” and “highlighting” things we need to know. Create in us clean hearts, renew right spirits within us, and may your Word be always on our lips. Help us to know and understand the wonderful things you freely give us, we pray in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 NKJV)
“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim. (Romans 10:8 NIV)
* From On Stories – On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature. Copyright © 1982, 1966 by C. S. Lewis