motivation – The Traveling Kites

How many times have you heard the phrase, content creator? What do you think of when you hear it? For me, YouTubers, Instagrammers, TicToc’ers come to mind, to name a few. Many people create content and share it with the world in hopes of becoming a viral sensation, perhaps even earning enough income to make a full-time career of it and the milestone of displaying that shiny YouTube plaque in the background of their videos.

Then comes the shameless plug that is almost perceived as a required sign-off: “Please like, subscribe, share, and click the bell so you won’t miss any of my content.” Truth be told, I’ve included a variation of that in most of our YouTube videos, albeit in text form at the end.

Is creating a new thing? I think back to when I was a kid, seeing my grandmother collecting items from the garden, carrying them back in her apron that she had gathered up by its corners. She would often cook or can food (her homemade grape juice was a favorite of mine). She was also a quilter and always had stacks of quilt squares beside her chair, waiting to be sewn into her next quilting project. My sister and I used to pretend we had a store, buying and selling those squares with imaginary money. My grandmother was a creator.

What are the origins of creativity?

“In the beginning God created…” -Genesis 1:1a¹

There it is! The first recorded evidence of a creative God.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…’” -Genesis 1:26a

So, our inner heart toward creativity comes from the One who created us. We are created in the image of God, the original Creator.

What should motivate us as a creator? First, do you recognize that your creativity is a gift from God? I have taken that step to acknowledge that if there is any creative gift within me, it did not originate from my own talent, but from the One who created me.

My interest in photography goes back to my childhood. I still remember the sound and feel of clicking the wheel of a 110 camera to advance to the next frame. I’m sure some of you just felt that in your mind as you read. For years, I would experiment with various forms of composition in hopes to create something interesting. My film camera experience came alive when I purchased a Canon A-1, which I used for many years before going digital with a Nikon D-5000.

I had an Instagram account for a few years but became dissatisfied with the move on that platform toward video shorts and distraction. So, I deleted my account.

More recently, I’ve shared my photography on Vero (https://vero.co/thetravelingkites). I am encouraged with the way they seem to get that photographers want to have control of their algorithm. I have also started a group on MeWe (https://mewe.com/join/thetravelingkites) for our travel photography. Likewise, I moved there due to the overflow of unrequested (and sometimes, unwelcomed) content on Facebook.

Video is something that I explored over the last several years. I started a YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@thetravelingkites) with thoughts that Sharon and I could share our travels with our family and with anyone else that cared to come along through that format. Our subscriber count is very low, but that’s OK. I have no aspirations toward internet fame and making money.

After a while, I got burnt out on video editing and decided to focus more on photography. I found that filming video seemed to intrude on the relational enjoyment of traveling with Sharon. Shooting photos is not nearly so obtrusive.

Writing has also been an interest of mine (https://thetravelingkites.com). I don’t believe I will ever write a book, but I do enjoy this shorter form of writing.

I am at a pivotal point in my creative journey. I’ve been doing a lot of introspection lately about what motivates me to share my craft.

In the past, our “about” information has stated that our creative outlets exist to share our travels with our family and to share the beauty of God’s creation with others who would have interest. I am feeling that a bit of fine tuning is in order. My first priority should be, and is, to honor God with anything I do. From that base, perhaps our family will enjoy seeing our photos and videos. Then, if anyone else cares to follow along, maybe they will be inspired to consider the beautiful world God has created for us.

“It’s not about you.” -Rick Warren²

What if we were to acknowledge that our creative gift is from a higher place? What if we were compelled to use our gift to honor God? What if it had nothing to do with popularity and everything to do with pointing others toward the One who created this beautiful planet for us to enjoy? I believe I am being called to make that pivot.

Are you…?

Creating for my Creator,

-Randy

The Holy Bible, New International Version. (1984). International Bible Society. (Original work published 1973).
Warren, Rick, 1954-. The Purpose-Driven Life : What on Earth Am I Here for? Grand Rapids, Mich. :Zondervan, 2002.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up? That is a question that came up in my Facebook stream this year. Perhaps you saw it too. If so, what was your response?

I remember being asked the question in school when I was a Jr. High student. My answer then was: a Forest Ranger. I imagined myself in the neatly-pressed, green ranger uniform, patches on the sleeves, hat on my head, walkie-talkie on my belt, standing in a fire tower, looking out over the forest through giant binoculars. The picture in my mind is still as vivid today as it was then. I can see the tops of the trees all the way to the horizon, broken only by a river and some winding dirt access roads. There are birds in the air and other wildlife occasionally passing by on the ground, next to my Jeep. Yes, the forest ranger in my head drove a Jeep.

The follow-up question on social media went something like: …and are you doing that thing today?

If you know me now, you know that I am not a forest ranger. I am a pastor, serving as full-time hospice chaplain. Life takes us down many roads. Things change along the way and many of us end up doing something completely different than our childhood dreams. Ministry is my calling and I love the work I do, but there are still some elements of my childhood dream that are alive and well in my adult life.

Sharon and I have been campers the entirety of our marriage. In our early days, we would take a tent to Cook Forest, Pymatuning, or some other western Pennsylvania location. Our outdoor adventures did not let up when our children came along. We would shoe-horn all of our equipment into the trunk of the car, load the kids and head out to a woodsy site.

I may not be a ranger in the fire tower today, but we have climbed them. My uniform may not be that of the park employee, but my hiking gear does just as good a job at helping me feel connected to nature. I enjoy collecting sticks and starting a fire with my ferro rod. I enjoy a good meal, cooked over the campfire. Although we like the comforts of an RV, we are not beyond pitching a tent, and have on a few recent excursions.

God created each of us to be a one-of-a-kind treasure, molded together with interests, talents and dreams that are uniquely you. Take time to enjoy the path he has established for you. In so-doing, you will find that life is full of joy and the embers of your childhood dreams are still glowing within. They may not look like you envisioned them when you were young, but they have a way of weaving throughout the building blocks of who you have become.

My love for the outdoors converges with my faith as I ponder the origin of the trees; the feel of the ground under my feet; the crackle of the fire; the beauty of the vast night sky. Psalm 19:1 says it well: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. All of this natural beauty draws my attention toward God.

So, getting back to the question; are you living your childhood dream? If you are, congratulations on the unwavering dedication to make your dreams come true. I suspect, however, that many of us diverged onto another path, somewhere along life’s journey. If that is the case, are there elements of your childhood dream still alive in your experience today?

May you find joy as your childhood dream gets rekindled. Fan that spark into flame and see where it takes you. Perhaps we can share a campfire someday and reminisce about the journey. I’ll bring the hot dog sticks!

Blessings,

Pastor… or should I say… Ranger Randy

Tag: motivation

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