When I reminisce about my childhood, I’m so grateful that I was one of the lucky kids who was outside more than in. Sometimes I’d gather tree frogs with my brother or play make-believe with my sisters. Every day was filled with the possibility of a new adventure.
When we weren’t in school, we were outside playing. So many children now spend more time with their screens than their family. Texting is replacing talking, and communication skills are suffering.
What will become of imagination?
A few weeks ago, my daughter Nikki spent the night with me. She was excited to share a movie she thought I’d enjoy. I was doubtful because we generally don’t see eye-to-eye on movies. For example, she believes the Three Stooges are hilarious, and I passionately dislike stupid humor.
The movie she suggested was If. In this particular case, she was spot on. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend this family-friendly film.
The main character is Bea, a young girl who lost her mother to cancer. That’s a heavy enough burden, but now her dad is in the hospital, and she’s afraid that he’s going to die, too. Fear has sucked the childish joy right out of her.
Then she stumbles across some odd characters and eventually discovers these “beings” are abandoned imaginary friends. They were left behind when their creators grew up and no longer had the capacity to engage with them. She goes on a quest to reconnect these quirky characters with their “people.”
It sounds kind of silly, but trust me, it’s heartfelt and thought-provoking. It certainly got me thinking about the changes in our culture since my childhood.
Have you noticed that cursive hasn’t been taught in schools for the last fifteen years? I wasn’t aware of this until helping my adopted granddaughters with their schoolwork. They couldn’t read my writing (and I’ve been told it’s very legible), because it’s in cursive. Old school, it seems.
When I researched why, I discovered that cursive writing was kicked to the curriculum curb in 2010 when Common Core was introduced. The educational powers that be decided it was no longer relevant to our culture.
The keyboard is apparently king.
I did some digging into the benefits of writing in cursive, and what I discovered left me a little disturbed by this educational choice.
Several sites, including FireflyEducation.com and Building-Brilliance.com, claim that writing in cursive not only enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination but also fosters creativity and self-expression, encourages critical thinking, and promotes brain development.
So, why in the world would we take all these positives away from our kids? I have a theory, but it borders on conspiracy-level thinking, so I won’t go there.
Although I did grow up writing in cursive, it’s no secret that I lack imagination. I never even had an imaginary friend. As a child, I didn’t walk around with my head in the clouds. I was too busy getting down to business to daydream.
This begs the question: Why in the world would the Lord give me the desire to create stories if my personality isn’t bent in that direction?
I am by no means comparing myself to any of the biblical heroes, but God called many of them to tasks that weren’t in their earthly wheelhouses, either. Moses was not eloquent in speech, yet God called him to speak to Pharoah on His behalf (Exodus 4:10). Gideon was the least of the least, and yet God called him to be a warrior (Judges 6:15). Esther was an orphan girl, and yet God used her to save her people (Esther).
If we’re called to something we’re fully capable of doing in our strength, then we risk the tendency to become self-reliant, prideful, and arrogant. Unfortunately, those character traits are in my earthly wheelhouse.
I’ve been in a strange transitional period over the last several months as I move from being traditionally published to indie (at the Lord’s guidance). Part of that challenge is having to relaunch fourteen books, which is ambitious, to say the least.
As I learn how to format books, the ins and outs of ISBNs, and strategize a marketing plan that suits my personality, my writing has suffered. Honestly, it’s been agonizingly slow.
The other day, I ran across an article about a program called Sudowrite. The ad for it claims it can revolutionize a writer’s life.
Let’s be clear—it’s Artificial Intelligence. Can’t come up with an idea? Let Sudowrite do it for you. Have trouble expanding your descriptions? Sudowrite to the rescue. In the reviews, authors claimed they could complete entire novels in a mere few weeks.
I seriously thought about jumping on the AI bandwagon. Why not if it’ll make me more productive and eliminate writer’s block from the equation? I wouldn’t even have to tax my brain to be creative. Sudowrite can do it for me.
And then the Lord reminded me of something critical to my circumstances.
I was called to write by the God of the universe. Insignificant, unimaginative me. The Lord put the desire in my heart, planned my steps, and ignited what little creativity I had to write stories. His stories. I’m merely the typist.
In my quiet time with Him the other day, I came across Psalm 90:17—May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. It was confirmation of what He had pressed on my spirit.
Years ago, I was blessed to take a writer’s workshop facilitated by Allen Arnold. The most impactful reality I discovered was that every day I write, I’m working in the presence of the Lord. I’m not only writing for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but I’m also writing with Him.
And I actually considered trading my holy Partner for an artificial one. What a colossal mistake that would have been.
This is not a judgment against those who use AI to help them write. We each have a different relationship with the Lord, and what He presses on my heart may not be the same for another author.
There are so many advantages to the technological world in which we live. But there is certainly a downside, too. In the bigger picture, if we continue this trend toward efficiency over creativity, what will become of wonder and imagination?
Artificial Intelligence is not authentic intelligence.
No matter what it can accomplish in us, it will never compare to the One who created thought in the first place.
The Lord tells us in His Word that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in His Image. We are each blessed with incredible gifts, and it is He who delights in helping His children unwrap and use them. In His time, within His boundaries, and for His glory.
