Creativity and Hospitality

[The Creative Call – III]

Have you ever been to a drum circle, a music-in-the-round, a sing-along, or any other communal music-making gathering? Something is in the air at those gatherings.

Anyone, literally anyone, can walk up, grab a tambourine, and join the circle. No judgment, no stink-eye, not head shaking, no awkward glares.

A jock.
A business woman.
A child.
A bicyclist in spandex.
A shirtless hippy.
With rhythm or without.
With musical ability or without.
On key or not.
Everyone is invited to join.

Here’s part of the reason why those gatherings are so hospitable: everyone is exposed, vulnerable, and contributing to the collective sound of the group. No one can hide. Everyone is taking a risk. And participation is expected. In other words, shared risk creates an environment that is often unattainable through our best efforts to cultivate it with directions, decor, and design.

We can’t fabricate hospitality and genuine welcomeness. It is the result of taking risk in the company of others. Creating an environment where others are moved toward vulnerability, genuine self-expression, and a sense of security, begins with taking a risk ourselves.

This is part of the creative call.

Creativity by definition is risky. It’s coloring outside the lines. It’s asking the hard questions. It’s dreaming of a different way. It’s tinkering with a solution night after night and finally sharing it. It’s committing thoughts to words and words to poetry (or prose). It’s producing something beautiful. It’s investing in alternatives.

In stepping into our creative call, listening to our creative voice, or embracing our creative view, we not only enact the kind of future we desire, we encourage others to do the same.

As soon as we pull out the party line, voice the status quo, or retreat to safe truisms, we say “No” to creativity and the door of hospitality slams shut.