Mary Kenyon - Called to Be Creative: A Guide to Reigniting Your Creativity

ENDORSEMENTS

I devoured this book. Each chapter is filled with encouragement and inspiration. If youre looking for something to feed your creative soul, this is it.

Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author

The tenderness Mary Potter Kenyon weaves between the lines and among the very fibers of the pages of this book make it all the more a celebration and call to creativity. Inspiring. Thoughtful. A book to read, then ponder; a concept to explore, then adopt.

Cynthia Ruchti, author of more than twenty books, including A Fragile Hope and As My Parents Age

Mary Potter Kenyons book is a call to explore the creative gift within all of us. It is like taking the hand of a friend who pulls us along on a new adventure, and on the way we discover new facets of ourselves. This book stirs many levels of creativity, inspiration, and blessing. It is a gift for the soul.

Shelly Beach, speaker, consultant, author of Love Letters from the Edge, and winner of the Christy, Selah, Readers Favorite, and Golden Scroll awards

Mary Potter Kenyon has a way about her; through the written word, she has the ability to draw her reader in as if a long-time friend, sharing both light-hearted laughs and deep truths. This book is a fantastic reminder of the God-given creativity that exists within all of us and a great encouragement to take the time and effort to develop and grow in that creativity.

Kim Harms, frequent contributor to Todays Christian Woman and author of the upcoming Life Reconstructed: A Girlfriends Guide to Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction

Through her book, Mary Kenyon has stirred my thinking and bubbled up many fun childhood (and adulthood) memories. She has encouraged me to remember that our Creator Godwho designed the magnificent universe, scampering squirrels, delightful tulips, and all nature that surrounds ushas uniquely and wonderfully endowed me (and each of you reading these words) with the gift of creativity. Although at times I might have downplayed the role creativity has in my life, I can see clearly now that its ingrained in me and, when used, leads to great fulfillment. Thank you, Mary, for these important reminders and for inviting us to play.

Twila Belk, writer, speaker, and author of The Power to Be and Raindrops from Heaven

Remember the myth of Pandoras box? The command to keep it locked shut, for in opening it chaos will ensue? How many of us have felt the urges in us to create, but we stop, keeping the lid shut tight, fearing rejection, not believing in ourselves, thinking its too late to start, or if we try we will look totally ridiculous? In Called to Be Creative, Mary Potter Kenyon gives us a fresh, friendly, faithful way of looking at the box in which weve stored our imagination and dreams. Mary invites us to lift the lid and discover the wonder, inspiration, beauty, and grace that God has placed in each of us, gifts that are released through the process of creativity. She does not do this alone, but rather weaves together stories, insights, and research from an amazing collection of other creative people in a way that inspires us to get moving, to risk, discover and enjoy the creative life, in everyday ways.

Rev. Vicki Jolene Lindley Reece, United Methodist pastor, writer and producer of the Catholic television show Real to Real, recipient of Proclaim award from the Catholic Communications Campaign

Mary Potter Kenyon understands that creativity is the soul of living. As co-creator of beautyalongside God as CreatorKenyon captures her own understanding of beauty and art through her heritage and in her losses. Beauty, as she knows, often emerges from the ashes of suffering and loss. Everything has the potential to become a beautiful masterpiece. Kenyon is an attentive and receptive author. In Called to be Creative, she makes us aware of our societal need for true beauty, and she knows deeply that each of us has the potential to create great things.

Jeannie Ewing, author of From Grief to Grace and Waiting with Purpose

Called to Be Creative is a treasure and a joy to read. Mary Potter Kenyon skillfully braids together stories about her personal life, stories about the lives of people she knows, philosophical ideas, practical advice, current research, and interesting and motivating activities for the reader, creating something that makes you want to put the book down and start creating something wonderful. My own creative life is never going to be the same having read this book, and it is also positively affecting my teaching, parenting, and way I relate to the world.

Doug Shaw, author of Social Nonsense: Creative Diversions for Two or More Players - Anytime, Anywhere and professor of mathematics at the University of Northern Iowa

Called to Be Creative takes the reader on a personal journey through the merry and often meandering world of creativity. As an art museum educator, I delight in the untethered creativity of the young and am dismayed when their older counterparts murmur the fateful words during art class: Is this done right? Mary Potter Kenyons book reminds us that creativity is a gift that is ours to access; one is never too old or too disinclined. She provides life-affirming stories and thoughtful suggestions to ignite creativity in even the most linear thinker. I invite you to use this book as a road map as you discover for yourself the joy-filled world of self-expression.

Margaret Buhr, Director of Education, Dubuque Museum of Art

Over the past thirty years, Ive read dozens of books on creativity and enjoyed most of them. Many of the books defined and illustrated creativity. Some offered excellent tips on how to open our creative veins. A few focused on creative experiences but contained little content. Called to be Creative uniquely combines vast research and practical applications while avoiding the pitfall of intellectualism. The richest flavor of the book comes from Mary Potter Kenyons shared experiences. Through reading them, we readily absorb practical ways to harness our God-given talents.

Cecil Murphey, New York Times bestselling author

With heartfelt reflection and charm, Called to Be Creative portrays a core foundation of creativity: Planted deeply within each of us from birth, the creative life begins in our heart, our soul, our mind, our home, and radiates from there, making the world a brighter place for everyone.

John Schlimm, author, educator, advocate, and creator of such Participatory Art projects as THE SMILE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (is yours)

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

PABLO PICASSO

Copyright 2020 by Mary Potter Kenyon

All rights reserved.

Published by Familius LLC, www.familius.com

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2020936660

Print ISBN 9781641702720

Ebook ISBN 9781641703611

Printed in the United States of America

Edited by Shaelyn Topolovec, Sarah Echard, and Peg Sandkam Cover and book design by Mara Harris Author photo on back cover by John Potter