Friday, August 21, 2009

The Artist's Way

As I said in my last sermon I've begun taking a workshop on Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way. Last week during 'reading deprivation' I came across these wonderful words of wisdom:

"If there is no God, or if that God is disinterested in our puny little affairs, then everything can roll along as always and we can feel quite justified in declaring certain things impossible, other things unfair. If God, or the lack of God, is responsible for the state of the world, then we can easily wax cynical and resign ourselves to apathy. What's the use? Why try changing anything?

"This is the use. If there is a responsive creative force that does hear us and act on our behalf, then we may really be able to do some things. The jig, in short, is up: God knows that the sky's the limit. Anyone honest will tell you that possibility is far more frightening than impossibility, that freedom is far more terrifying than any prison [of our own making]. If we do, in fact, have to deal with a force beyond ourselves that involves itself in our lives, then we may have to move into action on those previously impossible dreams.

"Life is what we make of it. Whether we conceive of an inner god force or an other, outer God, doesn't matter. Relying on that force does."


Cameron, Julia. The Artist's Way. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, 2002, pg. 63-64.

4 comments:

Andy said...

It is my experience that while some things may not be probable, anything is possible.

I may have to buy this book...

Cynthia said...

I challenge you to create a group of interested folks, read the book and do the tasks together.

I'm on week #5 and already I am seeing subtle differences in myself.

Mystical Seeker said...

I agree, that's a nice quote.

Jan said...

Wow--I am most impressed by your comment about seeing differences in yourself at week #5.