Foolish (Day 6 of A Simple Lent)

After berating the people of Corinth, Paul then gives them direction. Asking who is wise?

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

GOD turns on its head the wise and the foolish!

The wisdom of the world looks stupid before GOD. Wisdom which is still often the way of the world. Wisdom like might makes right and the weak pride of selfishness. The things which fail to share the same power as the commandment to love.

In light of that (the wise being foolish) Paul tells his followers to be fools to this world. Look crazy or stupid for loving a GOD of love and devoting to a GOD of devotion. Be weak in a world of strength. The call of GOD is to be foolish!

Because the ones who are foolish to our world are wise to GOD. Just as those who are wise to our world are fools to GOD.

Creative

The priority I’ve set for myself this week (check out the homework below!) is to foster creativity in my life. To be a bit more foolish.

To make this a priority, I have to raise it above the noise of everything else. And maybe quiet the noise of everything else while I’m at it.

I’m using two actions to make creativity my priority.

Do no fewer than one creative thing each day.

This should be simple for me, since I write daily, but I’m making creative expression and creative consumption to be my focus. So I’d like to make at least one new thing every day or work on one big project and make headway on it each day. I’m looking to redesign my website, so I am also taking time every day to explore the design, the layout, and the visuals to (hopefully) debut a new look in Easter.

Focus on more creative articles, fewer Facebook shares.

I too often peruse Facebook for fun and to check in with friends. And we all share a ton of articles. So many attract me to read them right then so I can comment. Or I save them to read later. The same goes for Twitter. But few of these articles are essential. Usually they’re political commentaries, articles about the future of the church, or videos on Upworthy. Few of these actually enhance my creativity.

So my feed this week isn’t the article du jour on Facebook (though I’ll give myself some self-indulgence every once in a while), but sites which spark my creativity. That means I’m visiting The Accidental Creative and Seth Godin’s blog.

In other words, I’m making more room for what I actually want, giving more intention to doing what I want to do, and giving myself permission to look at the fun Facebook posts afterward.

This way I live into my priority with intention and can feel good about it.

Daily Office Readings

Psalm 45
Genesis 37:12-24
1 Corinthians 1:20-31
Mark 1:14-28

Or visit the alternative Daily Office I often use.

Homework

This week’s homework is to discern a priority and focus on it.

Download the worksheet: A Simple Lent – Handout 1!