Sermon above San Fran:
Thinking about the creative process today while dancing and landing on the walls of this city today. Helps me tune back into her. Good to be back. I think lots when just goofing off or playing around…Some people think of art as a luxury, but for me it is a way of knowing, and entering into His Heart and orientation towards people and places. “God always meets me when I’m creating.” as one monk artist said. Anyway..enough spiritual talk…
Thinking about creativity itself today as i dialogue with this city while landing on her walls…
Personally, I get re-ennergized by making very physical even athletic theatrical art—things which challenge me physically, usually involving identity and cities. Even when I’m goofing off on fb, i still like to take creative physical risk and work on timing—usually my subject is identity of people places and things (all the great nouns!). Since I love cities, they are always with me like people.
 As i get older i also pace myself more (and when and with whom to share things) between the actual creativity and the editing sharing parts of the creative process.
In Genesis, the first book of Torah, we see these stages of the creative process:  hovering, delineating elements, separating and naming, seeing how they relate (discovering the narrative), and helping articulate it, then sharing it, or communicating it—broadcasting or publishing—those were the stages of God’s creativity in the Genesis story, and since we are made in His image, it turns out they are also ours!! I’ve thought lots about the stages of the creative process as a meditation on who God is. Some cities and people, also highlight the creative process, so it’s helpful to know it, in order to love them better.
  The creative process hasn’t really changed. And applies regardless of medium—even sermon making (especially sense its supposed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit who is definitely creative!), if truly inspired, passes through all these stages. Though i must say, i’ve sat through some pretty un-creative sermons in my day!
  Most artist tend to spend more time on one stage than another..i like the hovering, delineating, but have worked on the editing according to narrative aspect over the years, and the sharing. I tend to share things before their formed because i enjoy the whole process so much—alas! I also really enjoy how sound, image and words come together. They are meant to work in tandem, and all support one another to express the inner meaning.
  I also like to set limits—12 seconds, four shots, work with the best, and find out what it means —what it’s trying to say, and edit accordingly—are quick rules for me, at least when i’m traveling and in a hurry.
 Just thinking out loud about the creative process itself. Fun meditation as i’m making art today in a symbolizing creative city. “Everything is always symbolizing itself, so can be read from that dimension of communication.”
Wisdom also thinks about how to share, when to share and with whom. The tone of Love also matters.
Also fun just dancing on walls and watching cities considering who they are. Also watching a documentary on Dorothea Lange on the way over, i felt her life was tragic, but this piece of advice stuck: “Edit everything towards your best expression.” Made sense.