Chasing Tinkerbell...(take 2)

I originally posted this on January 27, 2007. It mysteriously disappeared. I was rather fond of it, so here goes take 2...


"You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always love you, Peter Pan. That's where I'll be waiting."

I can't believe I just quoted Tinkerbell.

The other morning I had an incredibly creative streak. Thoughts were flowing at a truly amazing rate. I had at least 5 ideas for totally captivating blogs, 3 or 4 great lyrical hooks, a few gripping song titles, etc. All of this within about 15 minutes.

I don't remember a single one.

Allow me to explain. I wasn't fully awake, but I was not totally asleep. I was simply where Tink was waiting for Pete. Tink winked, I blinked, and the whole thing really stinked because it was all gone.

Actually the whole thing was really weird. I was laying there in semi-bliss as the thoughts flowed from a sweet fountain of creativity deep inside. I was partaking in unfiltered, unadulterated "Ideas", unhindered by the usual tyrannical noise of life. Relishing in the fact that making these reality was going to be an amazingly rewarding experience, it soon seemed as though a translucent veil was very slowly and very cruelly pulled over my eyes.

Gone. All of them. The bitter irony was that I still had the slightest aftertaste of the sweetness of that moment. Awake and disappointed I frantically grasped for any recollection...ANYTHING.

Nothing.

I was chasing Tinkerbell, but she was nowhere to be found.

We have been talking about the Artist's Way at our Songwriter's meetings. I am planning to get the book, but this experience made me do some reflecting on creativity. Could it be that in today's "I want it yesterday" society where we measure time in nanoseconds, that we have cluttered our souls? Consume, consume, consume. Instead of nourishing our creativity we are numbing ourselves with a constant intake of items that are not healthy.

Now I'm not saying that people can't create art due to these things...what I am concerned about is creativity that reaches the human soul, turning their attention to the Creator. Sure, there are some creative works that lack any eternal message that move me. Some have distinct characteristics that I can identify. Others have that certain je ne sais quoi, the "whys" not readily apparent, but the visceral reaction very much present. But how much better when art honors THE Artist and moves people toward Him.

Who knows. It is a valid question, however.

In the meantime, I will keep chasing Tinkerbell. I suppose I will have to do it the old fashioned way...fully awake with a lot of sweat and tears.

Now back to my soon-to-be creative corner.

JRod