It Is Better to Create

I got this message from two different sources. The first is a podcast from the Circe Institute: The Commons #11. Author S. D. Smith and the hosts examine the roles of critic, curator, and creator. Their conclusion is that the latter two are more valuable than the former as the creator (at his best) works to bring new good things into the world, and the curator points others to those good things they had not seen before.

The second is from the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch. Stitch is on a destructive rampage in Lilo's room when she says "You know, you wreck everything you touch. Why not try and make something for a change?" While Stitch didn't make something good, he did turn from destruction as his main purpose. 

The problem of course is that in our fallen world, it is much easier to destroy, tear down, and critique. I write quite a bit for my job and writing is difficult to do well, whether for an academic journal, a set of technical directions, or an email. But even so, I want to bring good things into the world and so strive to write clearly.

Thinking as an elder, those three roles of critic, curator, and creator all have their place in the church. We must be warned from evil and sin by the critic, but on the flip side we must point to the many good things such as faith, holiness, worship, the sacraments, and more. And, we must participate in the creating good things. I didn't say big things, just good things. We can make a joyful noise and participate in worship. We can make a meal for another family. We can make a men's breakfast where we can work through deeper issues in our hearts. We do not need to be experts to point others to the good and make good things ourselves.