We need to practice remembering what we have forgotten.
Madeline L’Engle says, “All children are artists, and it is an indictment of our culture that so many of them lose their creativity, their unfettered imaginations as they grow older.
Remember when you could fly over your neighborhood?
Finley Eversole writes, “In our society, at the age of five, 90 percent of the population measures “high creativity.”
By the age of seven, the figure has dropped to 10 percent. The percentage of adults with high creativity is only two percent!
Our creativity is destroyed not through the use of outside force, but through criticism, innuendo, by the dirty devices of this world.
So we are diminished, and we forget that we are more than we know.
In her must-read book, Walking on Water, L’ Engle tells the story:
“When I was a small child, visiting my grandmother at her beach cottage, I used to go down the winding stairs without touching them.This was a special joy to me. I think I went up the regular way, but I came down without touching. Perhaps it was because I was so used to thinking things over in solitude that it never occurred to me to tell anybody about this marvelous thing, and because I never told it, nobody told me it was impossible.
When I was twelve we went to Europe to live, hoping the ait of the Alps might help my father’s lungs. I was fourteen when I returned, and went to stay with my grandmother at the beach. The first thing i did when I found myself alone was to go to the top of the stairs. and i could no longer go down them without touching. I had forgotten how.”
Remembering the things we have forgotten is one of the reasons for all art.
This remembering is not understood by the church, by seminary trained rational thinkers—nor by our Western culture’s black and white rational thinkers—whose creativity has been spanked out, combed out, churched out and educated out. It is those sort of people who tell us to “grow up for God’s sakes” because of what they have allowed to wither in themselves.
But, if we do not practice remembering, (that is, practice knowing our spiritual minds, knowing contemplation, knowing imagination and our forgotten memories,) we will only survive our allotted days, not LIVE them.
Question: Do you remember when you could fly? What have you forgotten?
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57 responses to “Why We Need To Practice Remembering What We Have Forgotten”
You mean some people quit flying over their neighborhood? Why?
I’m sorry to say they do…
We were at a fancy seaside restaurant eating brunch the other day and there was a gorgeous little blonde boy who couldn’t have been more than four or five at the table next to us. The restaurant was filled with adults and this little boy just played around all of us as we ate using pot plants and sea shells he found. He then got tired and climbed up on his mum’s lap and then let out the loudest fart I’ve ever heard. He wasn’t bothered at all. Of course, we all cracked up laughing (including his mum) and it was the most life I think that restaurant had seen in a while. It was a refreshing and disarming moment.
So beautiful. If we all could become as innocent as that—minus the farts of course. :)
We were at a fancy seaside restaurant eating brunch the other day and there was a gorgeous little blonde boy who couldn’t have been more than four or five at the table next to us. The restaurant was filled with adults and this little boy just played around all of us. He then got tired and climbed up on his mum’s lap and then let out the loudest fart I think I’ve ever heard. He wasn’t bothered at all. Of course, we all cracked up laughing (including his mum) and it was the most life I think that restaurant had seen in a while. It was a refreshing and disarming moment.
I feel like this has been my last few years. Learning how to fly again. To dream. I know that I once use to (especially in writing and creating) and when I think back now I think middle school is when I stopped. Then going to a Bible College I think that diminished it further. Now my creative cannot be denied and I am so enjoying the remembering. Thanks for the reminder Randy…you are always challenging me!
I adore L’ Engle too. One of my most favorites.
Thanks, Christy!!Do not be denied!!
Randy, this is one of the areas I have tried to be so intentional about with the development of my little ones. Honestly, I am not sure if I am doing it well. I so want to foster the creativity and see the imaginations of my little boy and girl take them on these “dream journeys.” I would love for some ideas from you and your readers on ways to cultivate and encourage creativity in children. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!! In the meantime, I am working on my own memory…
Awesome, Ben. With a desire like you guys have to be creative parents, your children will do just fine!! But I must hasten to say, I love that you are asking for advice and input. I love that!!
What a great post! I think this helps illustrates the need for activities like journaling. I know my creativity shoots explodes after playing with my girls, exercising, making time for music and other joys. Creativity! Yes! Great job Randy. http://www.kellycroy.wordpress.com
Awesome, Kelly. thanks SO much!!
I still fly over my neighborhood. – http://www.nikao.ws/2008/09/03/theres-got-to-be-a-better-way/
currently my elbow is a little bloody from falling in an attempted flight last night. I’ll be back at it tomorrow!
Love it, Vince!! Love the tricycle!! I need to get a bloody elbow myself tonight!! Up…up….
I remember making all kinds of things as a kid. And I then I forgot, to varying degrees and various points in my life. :(
About a year ago, I realized that it was possible to remember again. So I’ve been trying to remember consistently for a year or more; to remember the joy and wonder and engage with it.
What I’ve found for me is, the more I remember, the more vivid my memories become. And, not only my memories, but also my dreams. Its as though I become more aware of God in my life when I re-engage with my childhood faith.
This is a great post Randy, thanks for sharing! I have tons more to say, but I’ll probably have to organize it better and make it a blog post of my own.
Thanks for the inspiration! I think I’ll go find a coloring book… :)
Powerful, Jen!! “What I’ve found for me is, the more I remember, the more vivid my memories become. And, not only my memories, but also my dreams. Its as though I become more aware of God in my life when I re-engage with my childhood faith.”
Seems that God is more concerned about us growing younger than we would like and I know it has to be b/c he knows there in that unfettered hope, imagination and spirit is where we live out of who we were created to be.
Funny enough, keeping away from the institution that is so much church has allowed for this re-learning to thrive where as it was constantly battered and rained on behind those dusky walls and buildings. Getting out of the structure and engaged with people – be it Jesus followers or not – has done tons to nurture the younger side of living; as if God says, “run out the door and play in the fields.”
and as e.e.cummngs said,
“may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it’s Sunday may I be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young”
Wow, Kendall! As e.e.cummngs said,
“may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it’s Sunday may I be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young”
my absolute favorite poet mr. cummings is. thanks for sharing that Kendall
Yes, sir. chuck, you were my intro to cummings. thanks SO much!!!
Hey Randy!
I never had a chance to share this with you on the cruise, but this practice (of remembering what we’ve forgotten) is very close to my heart right now. I was sexually abused as a child (from ages 6-9) by my grandfather. When that happened to me…I immediately forgot how to fly. I was burdened with a weight that kept my feet flat on the ground, knees faltering, barely standing, much less flying. I carried that weight alone for 14 years (the abuse stopped after 3 years, but I told no one for another 11 years).
You know how, when working out, even a light weight feels heavy after holding it for a long time? I held a heavy weight as a young child, and the longer I held it, the heavier it got. It almost killed me on more than one occasion…but Jesus saved me.
Full healing from childhood abuse, and all that comes along with it, can take a lifetime. But, I am in a new stage of my life right now…turning 40 next month…and God is showing me how to live! He’s teaching me how to be a child again, but in a way I was never able to experience in my first childhood…how to be a happy child…a joyful child…a free child…a creative child. I’m like Benjamin Button (getting younger as I get older)! And, I’m so excited about all that He still has to show me!!
This cruise was another turning point for me…another growth spurt…a defining moment! Thank you for following God’s pull on your heart to encourage people like me to ALL that God created us to be!
Kim, You have brought me to tears. First, tears of pain, then tears of joy. Thanks for this very transparent and ultimately joy-filled comment.
As Satchel Paige so famously said, “If you didn’t know how old you are, how old would you be?”
Kim – you are singing my song in perfect pitch. I’ve been there and completely understand what you mean about being weighed down in all areas. I, too, have come alive in the last five years. Experiencing new things like a child and engaging in life again. Thats why Ken Davis’ talk meant so much to me. God’s confirmation to keep living fully alive. God bless you on your journey. He IS able to carry to completion that which He began in you. Also, one of my favorite scriptures besides Isaiah 61 is Hosea 3 “Your valley of Achor will now be your door of hope . God is so amazing!
Love to you as you walk this journey,
Lesa
Thanks, Lesa. You inspire me so!!!
This is so true! Miroslav Volf (great author), wrote a book called The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World. It is totally worth the read, especially if you’ve been through junk and hurt in your life. Not only must we remember, but there is a ‘right’ way to remember. I’m glad that the negative forces in Volf’s world didn’t squash his creativity–in fact, proper memory of those times unleashed a world of creative thought in him.
Thanks, Rick!! Yes, some of those that should be void of magic because of their past are the ones that seem to have the most. Someone also just told me about “Moonwalking With Einstein.” Another fascinating study on memory.
Creativity is not easy for systems to control. And control is key. Loss of control brings fear. Fear reminds us of how small we imagine ourselves to be. And how distant we fear God might be.
So we squelch creativity ourselves and our systems, and substitute control. Control is an ugly brutish tool, but it “protects” us from facing our fear.
Odd, isn’t it, that when we finally become so sick of suppressing our creative nature – when we say forget it and walk away from controlling and being controlled – that we find the presence of One who will protect and nurture us without the use of control.
(Nah. Too potentially troublesome. That will never preach.)
Bill,
Those are some big words. The whole idea of control is the theme of my book “Sex, Lies & Religion.”
Fear and control erases the magic of our lives….
Some creative influencing culture dude gave me a copy of that book last year. Read and enjoyed it very much.
But it had a statue of some guy with a penis on the front. So I knew that it couldn’t be valid. At conversion, all men become Ken dolls. Nice hair, steady smile, totally non-threatening.
Sheesh.
Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And we are living in a beautiful time where the economy of scarcity (read: control) is giving way to an economy of abundant content (read: creative freedom) where creators can flourish and be!
Watching guys like you and the 1211 crew inspires me to believe that just might be true. ;-)
Yes, that is Tim Sanders book “Love Is A Killer App” to the tee. And Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations” and on and on…Abundance NOT scarcity!!!
Thanks Randy! there are two moments on your blog that have really helped form me as a creative. One was a quote by Lawrence of Arabia (i actually named my blog after that) and the other was the depiction of the loss of magic from “A Boy’s Life” which you touched on in this post. one thing i fight hard not to tell my children is “grow up” or “act your age” that typically comes to head when there are meltdowns and i want them to be more emotionally mature. i NEVER want them to lose the creative spark, that’s why when they create or imagine, i’m right there rooting them on. my parents never discouraged art or creativity, but they didn’t necessarily encourage it. i think they valued it, but didn’t know how to tell me to follow my dreams. so whatever my children say they want to do or be, i say Go For It!!
thanks so much for moving so many in the right direction.
Ah, so true, Chuck. Such a fine line between emotional maturity and magic.
Your parenting, will shorten the learning curve of your children!!
Hang in there!!
Chuck, I love the song inspired by this post!!!
http://dangerousdreamer.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/rough-draft-of-a-song-inspired-by-randy-elrods-blog-post-today/
thanks. all i need is a spark. praying for a co-writer, collaborator or mentor who would come alongside me.
My God send you the spark!!!
Awesome. I need constant reminders. EGO is an acronym for Easing God Out. When I’m, in EGO, I am stuck in so many ways, I forget. Oh, and btw, Madeleine L’Engle is my beloved grandmother! Nice to meet you . . . via Keith Jennings!
Lena, You mean she is like a grandmother or she IS your grandmother?
And very nice to have you join our conversations!!
She’s my flesh and blood, my mother’s mother.
My goodness. My knees are actually weak. Thanks so much for your comment and for listening to Keith. He is awesome!
Randy, Lena’s first novel, Edges, was published in December. She’s a Creative worth watching! Maybe a potential speaker for a future re:create conference.
Yes, Keith, I just checked out Lena’s site. Awesome!!! Thanks so much!!
I love this and it’s so true. I just got back from a Muse Cruise in the Caribbean with other artists. The beauty was astounding, but the most freeing part – sitting on the floor of the conference room (we were on the 14th floor of the ship and I have a height’s issue) with my art supplies spread out in front of me like a little kid – remembering how to paint again.
I still hear the “Church is no place to be creative” from my more orthodox friends and I watch them drop off the plane one at a time to burn out, depression, and grief. I try to warn them.. but you know..
We were created by the greatest artist ever – who are we not be?
Deana,
A few churches slowly but surely are valuing creativity over control. May their tribe increase! Your cruise sounds AWESOME!!
I have just recently come across your blog. I appreciate this post.
As a staff member at a church, and, I feel, someone who has a creative bent, I agree that a lot of the wonder and imagination of things is lost in churches. As one who leads in worship, I feel it is part of my job to remind people of the wonder of the truths we sing about.
It is sad to me that the church could be guilty of subduing imagination. It should be a place that fosters a wonder and awe of the Creator of everything. He didn’t make a drab, boring world. And the wonder of the accounts in the Bible should inspire imagination.
These thoughts of yours remind me of C.S. Lewis. Thanks for sharing.
Mark,
Thanks for joining the conversation. I love your quote, “As one who leads in worship, I feel it is part of my job to remind people of the wonder of the truths we sing about.” So good. So true.
And thanks for the immense compliment. I LOVE C.S. Lewis!!
BTW, do you know about my re:create Conference (http://recreateconference.com) You sound like you would bring a welcome addition to our gathering!
Randy
Wow, this is incredible Randy. I think I forgot at a pretty young age. Right around high school. I was conditioned to be pragmatic and practical from way too young. I even used to tell myself that I am a thinker, not a creative. That is such garbage. We are all creative. We were created to be creators, in the image of the Great Creator.
I’m beginning to remember and it is extremely liberating!
Awesome!! Tony, then this post was worth it!!!!
I love this “We are all creative. We were created to be creators, in the image of the Great Creator.”
Oh, I’m still flying Randy! Still wandering the enchanted kudzu of my imagination. Still laughing at all the stiff grown-ups. The secret is I’m hiding in a grown man’s body. Just don’t tell anyone!
(This is a beautiful post.)
Ahhh, Keith. You have such a way with words!! “Still wandering the enchanted kudzu of my imagination.”
I must admit I forgot to remember kudzu as enchanting. Thanks for helping me not forget!
I remember when I could fly and wanted to be a policeman, a fireman, a navy seal, a rockstar, and a pro baseball player. As children, the world was ours for the taking. Recapturing that childlike, bold spirit is so essential to our creativity and success. Thanks Randy for the always inspiring words.
Thanks, David!! Maybe we should make it: “As grown up children, the world is STILL ours for the taking.”
Awesome Post. Makes me think of Seth’s books where he talks about the Lizard Brain. Man I have to fight that with myself and my staff every day. Thanks for the insights. Love to see where God is taking you to impact the lives of people. Man time flies.
Thanks, Phillip. It thrill me that we have rediscovered each other through the world of social networking!
Yes, it is a daily fight to rediscover the magic of our lives!
funny how we forget so easily when we get older and yet… now… i totally remember when i could fly… or be aquaman in my grand parents pool. that part was a little harder once a ran out of air though:) i still love aquaman:) thank randy.
Ha!! Thanks, Spence, I was Batman before Batman was cool!! And I decided if Superman could fly, then doggone it, so could Batman!!