While working on a current sewing project, I discovered I had not followed the instructions correctly. I had to remove some stitches and insert some steps I had missed before. This wasn’t a major problem, but it took time and patience to correct it. If I hadn’t made the correction, the finished product would have functioned okay. But now that the pieces are together correctly, the finished product will look and fit well.
If you’re like me, you like getting it right (whatever you do) the first time. Ripping out seams and resewing takes up a lot of time, and I often get frustrated, especially if I’m short on time. At times I make mistakes that can’t be corrected, so I’ve had to recut a pattern piece or abandoned the project. However, I may be able to creatively cover the mistake. For instance, if I accidently cut the fabric where there should be no cut, I cover it with an iron-on applique.
I tend to be a perfectionist and get frustrated when a project doesn’t turn out perfectly. But I learned long ago to accept imperfections, because otherwise I wouldn’t finish anything. If I quit playing piano because I sometimes played a wrong note, I would stop doing something I enjoy and that relieves stress. I still bake cakes and cookies even though the finished project comes out imperfect. There are times, however, I have refused to try something new because I fear failure.
Some things have to be done right.
A carpenter must cut his wood to match the specifications of the house plans or the boards will not fit together correctly. If he is careless or uses poor quality wood, problems with the finished home will appear quickly: a leaky roof, drafty windows, black mold, a tilting building, or the house may fall apart under the pressure of a hard wind or heavy snow.
Companies spend a lot of money creating and testing their products for their effectiveness and safety. Scientists must know what elements to combine and how to use them to make effective drugs to treat illnesses. Mechanical engineers must understand math and physics, among other things, in order to build bridges that will stand up to traffic and the forces of nature. If they try to speed up the manufacturing process or use cheaper ingredients or material, the companies risk failure and killing people.
Creative people tweak the norm to come up with something new and better. Without creativity and the willingness to try something new, there would be no innovation. If man had not continued to experiment with imitating the flight of birds, we wouldn’t have the airplane today. Although I can make small changes to a pattern for a dress, I admire the ability in others to create their own patterns. In every career or occupation there are innovators, creative people who come up with better ideas for the workplace, for the production line, and for life. Each musician, artist, artisan, writer, and designer may follow certain rules (how to put together musical notes, or what colors to mix, or which words to use), yet they have their unique style, their unique voice. And that uniqueness will appeal to a unique group of people.
I think that each one of us has at least a spark of creativity that helps us or others deal with the challenges of life. A mom might find a creative way to interact with or amuse a cranky toddler; a teacher uses a creative idea to catch and hold the attention of her students. We hope that creativity and innovations will in some way be beneficial or lead to an improvement in the quality of life.
God is the Master Creator. He created us. We are surrounded by His creative beauty.
He shares His creative spirit with us. He created us to think and make and do. He also gave us a will, so we have to chose whether to use His gift for good or evil. Whether we follow the plans or make creative changes, God wants us to glorify Him in all that we do.
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17
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