Nerd Joy.
I’m writing a paper for my final psychology class in grad school on the topic of integration of theology and psychology. My particular topic deals with story, and its use in psychology and theology. I love stories–I’m a voracious reader–so it only made sense for me to write about something I love in the attempt to create a dialogue between these two disciplines I study. And of course it made even more sense to begin reading some theological works by Dorothy L. Sayers, my favorite mystery writer (see Lord Peter Wimsey) and a talented theological thinker. Here, a lengthy quote on the dangers of seeing life as a succession of “problems” requiring “solutions” as opposed to a creative process…
“…the common man, obsessed by the practice of a mathematical and scientific period, is nevertheless obscurely aware that the enigmatic figure, the creative artist, possesses some power of interpretation that he has not, some access to the hidden things behind that baffling curtain of phenomena which he cannot penetrate…the artist does not see life as a problem to be solved, but as a medum for creation. He is asked to settle the common man’s affairs for him; but he is well aware that creation settles nothing. The thing that is settled is finished and dead, and his concern is not with death but with life: ‘that ye may have life and have it more abundantly.’ …The desire of being persuaded that all human experience may be presented in terms of a problem having a predictable, final, complete, and sole possible solution accounts, to a great extent, for the late extraordinary popularity of detective fiction. This, we feel, is the concept of life that we want the artist to show us. …What is obvious here is the firmly implanted notion that all human situations are problems like detective problems, capable of single, necessary, and categorial solution, which must be wholly right, while all others are wholly wrong. This cannot be since human situations are subject to the law of human nature, whose evil is at all times rooted in its good, and whose good can only redeem, not abolish, its evil.” –D.L.S., The Whimsical Christian, pp. 127-130
Lots of good stuff in there and, in light of my recent submission of internship site rankings, I find it comforting to know that life typically never has one right answer, and that it is a process rather than a problem, anyway. We do our best, and can never be sure what to expect. However, it is the will to create, rather than an obsession with perfection, that allows us to live most like God, whose nature is creative, and in whose image we are made. As he creates, so must we.
February 6th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
People ask me sometimes how I write some of my stories or how I come up with some of the ideas. I honestly tell them in most cases, “I don’t know.” But they want to hear a formula or some kind of process that makes sense. Even as far as writers go, and they are a strange bunch as it is, my “processes” are a little strange.
In the end, it all boils down to a desire to create. Their is no science to it. God gave it to me. I do my best to use it withouth questioning how I do it.
I don’t know how much sense that makes with your post, but it is what I thought of while reading it.
February 6th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Sounds like a good book by Sayer. I’ve heard her name somewhere, but I can’t recall where. I like how you talk about creativity as part of the Imago Dei. I taught a class on being created in the image of God at my church. It is a mysterious topic that has entranced me. And in the Brehm Center we often speak of creativity as part of the image.