Doodles to Drama
Since I can remember, I have been a chronic doodler. Maybe I even know where the habit started.
I had a wonderful art teacher in fifth grade. Mrs. Vidalakis had been a lawyer in Greece, came to America, and became a history and art teacher. I was blessed to have her for both subjects. Her love of both inspired students for generations as she brought history to life and gave us basic drawing skills enabling us to create for years to come.
As part of my Swedish death purge, I have been going through notebooks with years of sermon notes. Each page had Biblical truths adorned with abstract squiggles, scenes of beaches or mountains, or drawings of faces of those around me. I did pay attention to the sermons, but my hands have a mind of their own. As I develop plans, I doodle. I hope God doesn’t get too upset with me for doodling. Otherwise I have years of repenting to do.
I found the image above and wanted to justify my doodling to myself. It sometimes has been a worthwhile activity.
A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to costume a Christmas musical for my mom’s church. I was pretty much starting from scratch and was given free rein to use my imagination. All I can say is too much fun!
Earlier that year, we had visited an exhibit at a museum in Atlanta. I purchased a hat that was a replica of one worn by the Huns and took off on that inspiration for my own creations. Because the choir was stationary, the little angels didn’t move – or at least that was the director’s intent. I made outrageous dresses using all sorts of laces and trims from my stash and went wild making fascinators instead of halos. The boy angels got simple gold headbands for halos, flashy gold and white vests, and … SWORDS! Goodness! What was I thinking? You can imagine. So cute, but so crazy!!! Thank goodness, the swords were plastic and no blood was spilled.
But my overall philosophy is God is the Great Creator. He made me to create a wee bit now and then. When inspiration strikes, I need to write it down or draw it immediately. Otherwise I may forget.
If you are following me in a car and I swerve to the side of the road, just figure inspiration has struck. Try not to rear end me as I am walking down the aisle at Walmart, stop in my tracks, pull out my little notebook, and start sketching or writing. It’s who I am. Just deal.
One of the foundations on which my creative streak rests is Romans 12:6. ‘Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.’
I also use that verse to justify another trip to the material store. Makes sense to me!
I love the story of Moses delegating chores for the construction of the tabernacle. In Exodus 35 (NKJ) Moses said, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel, and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship. … And He has put in his heart the ability to teach…”
I’m not there with the wisdom and understanding, and I won’t claim to have the skill level of ol’ Bezalel, but I am definitely looking forward to teaching the basics of sewing to a group of little girls at the end of September. Passing on the fun, I say!
Blessings
Kara Beth
