The airport hums with early-morning travelers as I wait for my 6 a.m. flight to Utah. Surrounded by airplanes and anticipation, I’m reminded of how extraordinary it is that we can soar through the skies. The Wright brothers come to mind—just two men from Ohio who refused to accept the limits of their era. When others dismissed the notion of human flight, they persisted with the question, What if humans could fly? Their tenacity and innovation turned fantasy into reality. Now, thanks to their vision, global travel in a matter of hours is commonplace, an idea unimaginable generations ago.
Reflecting further, I realize this speaks to our deepest human function: creation. Our world, once barren, has been shaped over generations by ordinary people. This raises an important question: what does that mean for the rest of us? Of course, we all have the freedom to choose our own path in life, but is there also a universal calling we all share? I believe so. I call it “creative opportunities”, the chances and challenges we all have to shape our world. The real question is whether we’ll recognize them when they appear.
To be about your father’s business( Why we should create)
I believe the Bible holds timeless wisdom about life. On the very first page of Genesis, we read: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” This tells us who we are. God, the ultimate Creator, made us in His image, also making us creators. Our foundational calling is creation; it’s written in our very being. That, I believe, is our foundational calling. One way to be in His image is to create. Creativity, for me, means living as God intended: solving problems, innovating, and giving life to new ideas.
One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of twelve-year-old Jesus: After being separated from Mary and Joseph, they found Him in the temple, listening and asking questions among the teachers. When His parents questioned Him, He responded, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?(or Father’s Business?)” (Luke 2:49). Even at that age, it was apparent to him what his fundamental purpose was. In the same way, each of us carries unique callings, but we all share this universal one: to seize creative opportunities. That is central to bearing God’s image.
Everyone creates
People often limit creativity to artists and musicians, feeling excluded from that group. But if you are human, you are creative. Our creative nature is a direct result of being made in God’s image.
So what do I mean by creative? Of course, the works of artists and musicians are the most obvious examples. Creativity takes many forms, not just music and art, but also any daily contributions to the world. To create is to contribute, adding something in the world, powered by your mind or body, whether new or enhancing the existing. Gardening can be every bit as creative as composing music.
To Do good work
Creativity’s expressions are endless. Each of us has unique avenues through which we can create, leaving us with an almost limitless set of options. But what exactly counts as a creative opportunity? Honestly, I don’t think there’s a ceiling to it. It’s not for me or anyone else to decide, but for the creators themselves. What I can say is that a “creative opportunity” is the act of pursuing good work. And what is good work? Broadly put, it’s any endeavor that, when pursued, brings a positive return—whether to the creator, to others, or ideally, to both. Good work actualizes ideas, bringing value. History is filled with such examples: from Da Vinci sketching inventions that pushed the imagination of his time, to the brilliance of NASA’s hidden figures to help make Apollo 11’s journey to the Moon possible, to an everyday person starting a community garden that nourishes their neighborhood. Even seemingly small creations, or even something as ordinary as a paperclip, have changed lives in profound ways. Big or small, any endeavor that brings positive change into the world is good work.
Now, someone might object and say, “But not all creative acts are good.” And they’d be right. History also has its share of inventions and ideas that, while undeniably creative, harmed more than they helped. Scams that robbed people of trust, addictive technologies that prey on attention, or weapons designed to destroy. These examples prove an important point: creativity by itself is morally neutral. It only becomes good work when it is harnessed to produce value and life rather than loss and destruction. In other words, the very existence of bad creativity strengthens the case for why we must be intentional about what kind of opportunities we pursue. Good work isn’t just about creating, it’s about creating with purpose. In this sense, doing good work is doing God’s work.
How do you create space to make cool stuff?
The truth is, that’s for the creator to decide. Everyone has their own way of approaching their work. But one constant is necessary: Focus. Throughout history, anyone who has done good work, whether in art, science, or everyday life, has had to be focused, at least for a period of time. There is no good work without focus. And what is focus? It’s the courage of saying no to shinier opportunities, of resisting distractions, and of committing your energy to one thing at a time. To create space for the good work, you must clear out what is less important. Focus is less about doing more and more about making room for what truly matters.
A warning
Our mind is the engine that drives all creative work. Without it, good work simply isn’t possible. That’s why nothing should be allowed to come between you and your mind. Drugs, toxic relationships, endless distractions; these are all threats that can poison your creative opportunities. They don’t just slow you down; they can destroy the very thing that makes creation possible. Protect your mind as you would any priceless tool, because it is. Feed it with clarity, rest, and purpose. Guard it against anything that would compromise it, and you’ll give yourself the best chance to fully realize your creative potential.
Pleasure Of Good work
Our dreams and ideas remain just that: dreams and ideas, as long as they stay in our minds. Thoughts are not real until we write them down. Imagination is not real until we draw it out or bring it into some tangible form. They only become real when we act on them, when we actualize them. And there is something profoundly satisfying about bringing a plan or vision to life. The pleasure that comes from good work is unlike any other. Often, we reduce pleasure to mere indulgence or self-gratification, but true pleasure is far deeper: it is the nourishment that comes from realizing our potential, from seeing our creativity take shape in the world. It is living fully in the flow of your work, engaging your senses, your body, and the present moment. Unlike other forms of pleasures, creativity doesn’t offer escapism; it offers engagement. And that is why pursuing creative opportunities is not just a task; it’s a source of joy, a path to fulfillment, and a reason to take action on the gifts we’ve been given.