Preface

   I experience happiness and fulfillment the most when I use my time, gifts, and talents to create. If what is created blesses my life, I find joy in sharing it with others to help bless their lives. I believe the attitude of creation and blessing is an innate need and desire we mortals transport to earth in the very strands of our divine DNA. The pattern of creating and blessing is obvious when we read the first chapter of the Old Testament, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). After every phase of the earth’s creation, the biblical account confirmed God’s enjoyment and satisfaction, “…and God saw that it was good.” As a culmination to His cosmic work, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). The verse following says, “And God blessed them…” (Genesis 1:28). After the blessing Heavenly Father again looked over His handiwork, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31, emphasis added). So while the act of creating is deemed good, when creation and blessing are combined it becomes very good.

Adam and Eve received specific instructions to follow God’s lead to create (see Genesis 1:28), to bless, and to teach their posterity (see Moses 5:12). We, likewise, are commissioned to do the same by not only creating our own individual lives, but by doing so in such a way as to bless others (see John 13:34).

In a podcast interview with research professor and author Brené Brown, PhD, called “Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert,” Brené defines creativity as “the way I share my soul with the world.” She believes “The only unique contribution we will make in this world will be born of creativity.” Some of us may think we seriously lack in this area but Brené insists, “There are no such thing[s] as noncreative people. There are just people who use their creativity and people who don’t.” She explains that those who don’t see themselves as being creative were most likely stifled or shamed in childhood and their innovative expression was shut down at that time. They may have been taught in their youth to think of creativity as being self-indulgent or unproductive. Brené warns, “Unused creativity is not benign. If people sit on or deny their creativity it festers. It metastasizes into resentment, grief, and heartbreak.”

Sacred Soul-Space is my creative offering to you. Each book comes with a sincere prayer that your life will be blessed with new insights and inspiration that will encourage you to set aside any unwarranted doubt or shame and join the creation and blessing process by offering the world what is uniquely yours to give.