Being an artist (as YOU are, as well), we tend to get a bad rap. Whether you’re a musician/songwriter, visual artist, videographer – or whatever – we all tend to like our own ideas. We pride ourselves on the idea that we’ve planted, watered, and cultivated over time. We feel like we’ve put in the time, effort, and creative energy into discovering this idea and will be the ones to implement it. It’s our pride & joy…with emphasis on pride. Maybe we’ve found ourselves thinking, or even saying, these “creative” thoughts:

Well, I like your idea for this song intro, but it’s really missing something. Check out what I put together.

“Extreme” is an okay title for the youth ministry, but I have an idea is quite a bit better.

Really? That’s the graphic you put together for the sermon series? LAME-O. Wait until they see my idea.

That’s the font they chose? I really hate James Cameron now.

Now, saying that excellence in what we do is not important would be ridiculous. We should be operating in excellence in everything we do.

Just remember that some people’s “excellent” is at a different level than yours. Remember that first sermon graphic you designed 10 years ago? Remember the video you made for youth 7 years ago? Okay. We do too. It stunk. But now you’re in a better place.

But aren’t you glad someone back then let you run with a bad idea? If they hadn’t, maybe you wouldn’t even be doing the creative things you are doing now. Somebody invested in us, encouraged us, and gave us the opportunity to run with a bad idea. Thank God for that.

So, just because that idea in the creative meeting or brainstorming session or worship practice isn’t as good as your idea doesn’t mean the idea isn’t good. At some point, if we’re honest, we can acknowledge that not all of our ideas are the best ideas.

But, God used them anyways. Not a bad idea if you ask me.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Aaron Alexander, our guest blogger, is Media Arts Pastor at Hope Fellowship in Frisco, Texas. He’s become a good friend over the last year and he likes to think he’s full of bad ideas; but he is so not. You can connect with him at www.aaronalexander.info or follow him @aaronalexander.