How do you create + play? Interview with Jane J.

There is something deeply comforting about watching hands create slowly and attentively. Yarn moving through fingers, stitches forming one by one, something beautiful growing almost unnoticed over time.

In this interview, I heard from a knitter whose creative practice began beside her grandmother and has continued through many different seasons of life. What emerges through her story is more than simply a hobby. Knitting has become a rhythm of peace, prayer, connection, and care; a way of slowing down enough to notice beauty and lovingly create for others.

Her reflections remind us that creativity doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful. Sometimes the simplest acts of making become quiet expressions of love, presence, and grace.

What first drew you to knitting and what keeps you coming back to it now?

What first drew me to knitting was watching my grandmother knit. She was an avid knitter who made beautiful sweaters, blankets, mittens, and scarves. She even knitted all of our family’s Christmas stockings. I loved sitting with her while she knitted. We would have sweet talks, and she could carry on a conversation and knit without skipping a beat.

My mom knitted a little too, and one summer when I was bored, I decided I wanted to learn. I made a very interesting scarf, but I was proud of myself. There is something so fulfilling about taking yarn and two knitting needles and creating something special for someone. There are seasons when I don’t knit at all, and other seasons when I can’t put it down.

What happens in you when you’re knitting? What do you notice, feel, or pay attention to?

I feel so relaxed when I’m knitting. It brings me such joy. I notice that I breathe easier, and it helps me release some of the tension from the day. It feels good to keep my hands busy, concentrate on the pattern, and quiet some of the noise in my head.

I especially love making prayer shawls and baby blankets. When I’m working on those, I feel so much peace and joy as I pray specifically for the person or baby receiving them. I notice that I feel closer to God. It feels like a privilege to pray for others in such a special way.

Do you ever create in community? If so, what happens when you are creating with someone else?

In the past, I’ve been part of a crafting community where we would gather together, bring the projects we were working on, sit in a circle, and share. It was wonderful to see what others were making and to share my knitting with them as well. Creating together draws us closer through a shared joy.

Has knitting ever helped you slow down, notice beauty, or connect with something bigger than yourself?

Knitting helps me slow down and relax. I find a comfy spot to sit and knit, and I notice the beauty of the yarn — the colors, the softness, and the texture.

I also feel connected to something bigger than myself. Many of the things I make are given to people I love and pray for regularly. It is sweet to know they are blessed by the finished piece as much as I am blessed while making it.

If you can imagine Jesus sitting with you while you are knitting, what do you think he is doing/saying/thinking?

I can imagine Jesus sitting with me and being pleased that I am doing something I love. I think He is happy that I’m using my talents to help others feel loved and cared for. A prayer shawl is like receiving a big hug. I feel Jesus with me while I knit.

I often think how special it would have been to sit at the feet of Jesus and knit Him a scarf or a hat.

What would you say to someone who wishes they could create like that, but doesn’t know where to start?

I would say, “I have some knitting needles and plenty of yarn — I’ll help you get started.” I would encourage them to begin with something simple and slowly work up to more challenging projects.

I would also tell them that the pieces don’t have to be perfect. There are things I’ve made where I chose not to go back and fix every mistake because they remind me that I’m not perfect, and God still loves me. It’s a wonderful lesson in being humble while also being proud of what you’ve created.

Creative and generous God, thank you for planting your creativity in us, so that when we create we can feel closer to you and your delight in us. Bless Jane, that with each stitch, she would feel your peace and your love for her. May the people who receive her beautiful gifts, feel not only her love, but yours as well. Help her to feel your delight in her as she creates.

How do you create+play? Interview with Walter W.

Poetry is often thought of as something polished or public, something we share once it’s fully formed. But for many, it begins much more quietly than that. It begins as a way of noticing, of processing, of speaking when words feel too heavy or too small.

In this interview, I heard from someone whose relationship with poetry has moved through seasons, from private expression, to silence, and back again into a form of creative language that feels deeply connected to presence, beauty, and God’s nearness. What emerged is a picture of creativity not as performance, but as communion, a way of seeing more clearly and listening more deeply.

His reflections invite us to consider that creativity is not only about what we produce, but about how it shapes our attention, our awareness, and our willingness to be present to what is already here.

What first drew you to poetry and what keeps you coming back to it now?

I started writing poetry in college as a way of expressing myself. My home was one in which the less you said out loud, the better, and I was not a reader or a writer. But college, the freedom to do things, and the expectation to talk, both began to open me and terrify me. Poetry was my way of talking without opening my mouth, which was my preferred way of communicating. But it was also a dark time for me, so my poetry was dark, evil, and suicidal. But it was a way of releasing venom without doing harm.

In my 30’s I destroyed all my poetry and gave up writing. I was slowly becoming a Christian and felt my poetry was too dark and I wasn’t sure I could write. I also stopped drugs and drinking, so my life was going through massive change which kept me quite busy. But the chaos was very unsettling and though AA and therapy was helpful, I was still to afraid to let too much of my real self out, so I returned, first to journaling and then to poetry. At this point it was all strictly personal and only for myself.

It was fairly recently that I realized that I was a poet, not because I’ve published anything, which I haven’t, but because it’s become obvious that that’s the way I communicate most comfortably, it’s what I enjoy doing, and I often even think and take notes in verse. It’s some of the essence of who I am.

What happens in you when you’re writing? What do you notice, feel, or pay attention to?

I echo what Eric Liddell said, when I write poetry, I feel God’s pleasure. I have joy and peace. Perhaps for me it’s like speaking in tongues, praying in the language God gave me.

You sometimes rap your poems for others. What type of connection does that bring, if any?

I also love to sing and I think that’s also one of God’s languages. I love the image in one of the Narnia books where Aslan is singing creation into being, I can definitely imagine God doing that. The ancient peoples sang, the ancient Jews wrote songs called psalms, Christians have always written hymns, so singing is built into us.

It is not too far a jump from Gregorian chant or Catholic priests “singing” the liturgy as they did when I was growing up (and some still do, the priest at St. Brigid’s did last month), or Jewish cantors, to see rap as a more culturally up-to-date way of expression. There are Christian rappers and hip-hop singers, modern day psalmists if you will, that express Christianity in a way that non-believers might listen to.

Has poetry ever helped you slow down, notice beauty, or connect with something bigger than yourself?

Always. I think that’s what poetry does. I don’t think I can write poetry without “seeing” things in greater detail than just in passing.

If you can imagine Jesus sitting with you while you write, what do you think he is doing/saying/thinking?

I think sometimes He gives me a word that I can’t quite find. I really thinks He enjoys watching me enjoy myself. That of course is not just me. Jesus loves to sit and watch each of His brothers and sisters peacefully enjoying themselves. As you know, it saddens Him to waste or bury our talents. And talents I think has more to do with enjoyment than other people paying to watch.

What would you say to someone who wishes they could create like that, but doesn’t know where to start?

Just start. If you have ideas or think in pictures, sit down and write. If you enjoy the formation of words and sentences and paragraphs, sit down and write them down. Write because it pleases God, not to please others. You may end up pleasing others as well but, I think, it’s between you and God. Poetry becomes poetry in a receptive ear and heart. In the English language anyway, ear is the center of heart, because an open heart hears another’s heart.

Creative and generous God, thank you for planting your creativity in us, so that when we create we can feel closer to you and your delight in us. Bless Walter, that whenever he puts pen to paper, he would find the words to express whatever is going on inside. And in those moments when he can’t even find the words, that he would find rest and comfort even in the trying. Help him to feel your delight and merriment in him and may this heart language of Walter’s always be a source of joy and peace.

You can read some of Walter’s poetry on Substack.

How do you create + play? Interview with Ryan

Creativity doesn’t always begin with confidence or expertise. Sometimes it begins with noticing something we once loved sitting quietly in the back of a closet and deciding to pick it up again.

In this conversation, I spoke with someone who recently returned to playing guitar after many years away from it. What started as the simple desire to learn one beloved song became something more: a way to quiet the mind, unwind during stressful moments, and connect with emotions that are sometimes hard to name.

His reflections remind us that creativity doesn’t have to be polished or public to be meaningful. Sometimes the most important thing is simply making space for a small, steady practice. One that helps us slow down, listen, and reconnect with ourselves.

Do you remember how you first got into guitar?
I played (poorly) years ago, as a teenager. A year or so ago, I noticed my guitar case was collecting dust in the back of my closet, and I thought I should get it out. I think I also wanted to play a specific song: Oh My Sweet Carolina.

Why that song?
It’s one of my favorite songs. I am not the most emotionally-in-touch person (surprise!), so I wonder if there is some aspect of melancholy in music that I find myself able to connect with more easily than other emotions. As for the song itself, it is beautiful in the way it expresses a longing for the loss of innocence and simplicity.

What happens in you when you play?
My brain gets quiet. There’s something interesting about how, in focusing on the mechanical execution of playing, other things in my head become muted.

Do you ever imagine playing in community?
The idea of making music with other people is appealing. I don’t really have the skill level required right now, but I’d be interested, if I could.

Does playing help you unwind?
Yes. I often find myself getting my guitar out when I’m stressed or emotionally unsettled. It’s calming in a way that I’m not sure I can describe.

Creative and generous God, thank you for planting your creativity in us, so that when we create we can feel closer to you and your delight in us. Bless Ryan, that whenever he reaches for his guitar, he would continue to be enveloped by calm and peace that can only be from your own Spirit. That with every chord he masters, he would find more and more delight in this creative practice and sense more of your delight in Him, just as He is. May the hiddenness of this act of play be an offering of worship from his heart to yours.

How do you create + play? Interview with Florie

Creativity doesn’t always look like paint or paper. Sometimes it looks like a cutting board, a pot simmering on the stove, and hands moving slowly and attentively through familiar motions.

For this interview, I heard from someone whose creative practice is rooted in the kitchen, a place shaped by memory, hospitality, nourishment, and love. What began in childhood as helping with simple meals has become a way of caring for bodies and spirits, cultivating connection, and paying attention to the beauty woven into everyday ingredients.

Her reflections remind us that creating can be practical and sacred at the same time. That slowing down matters. That rhythm, care, and presence can transform ordinary tasks into acts of love. And that sometimes the most meaningful creative spaces are the ones we return to every single day.

What first drew you to cooking and what keeps you coming back to it now?

All seven of the children in my family learned to cook alongside our mother. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t peeling potatoes or stirring a pot of sauce on the stove. Recipes were basic because finances were quite limited, but there was always enough to share, and friends were commonly found along with the family around our large kitchen table. This instilled a sense of cooking as a way to show love and foster community. That is still what draws me now, along with the belief that I am nurturing both the spirits and the bodies of my family and loved ones as I prepare healthful and beautiful food for them.

What happens in you when you’re cooking? What do you notice, feel, or pay attention to?

I enjoy every aspect of preparing a meal, which starts with my weekly planning. I usually try to make at least one or two new recipes each week, and often make foods from different cultures. I ask each family member if they have one request for the week and incorporate that into my menu. While I’m planning I make my shopping list and then do my weekly grocery shopping where I try to get the freshest and healthiest produce I can find.

Dinner preparation is a peaceful time for me. I try to leave myself plenty of time so nothing is rushed. I prep all my ingredients in advance, and since we are fully plant-based and eat a lot of fresh produce, that is often the bulk of the cooking process. I love the fresh smells, the different colors and textures of the vegetables, and knowing that the phytochemicals that cause the beauty in them are the very ingredients that will nurture the bodies of those I love most.

I pay attention to the balance of the flavors and textures. A little fresh lime juice squeezed in at the end of the cooking time adds brightness, a little cilantro sprinkled on top of the bowl gives a fresh bite, beauty and added health benefits as do some toasted sesame seeds for textural contrast. The beauty is delicious and that makes me smile. We eat with our eyes first and I try to be conscious of that part as well.

You sometimes cook with your family members. What do you think happens when people create things side by side?

I love cooking alongside my children. My son Jacob is particularly interested in cooking and we work together well. There is a rhythm we fall into where we are making something delicious and nurturing together, and sharing conversation that nurtures our relationship. There is a shared sense of purpose while we work and the product is more pleasing and satisfying from the joint effort.

Has cooking ever helped you slow down, notice beauty, or connect with something bigger than yourself?

Almost always. If I’m rushed I am likely to cut or burn myself or the meal will suffer, so I have trained myself to slow down. I notice the beauty in the ingredients and the smells and textures and colors as they start to cook and change. I am mindful of the plants as created uniquely by God to feed and nurture our bodies and there is an air of reverence to the process. In a very real way my kitchen is the most sacred space in my home.

If you can imagine Jesus standing with you while you cook, what do you think he is doing/saying/thinking?

I often feel His presence as I’m cooking. I think He is pleased with the stewardship of my family’s health. I think he would say as my son often does when he walks in the kitchen, “It smells amazing in here.” I think He is pleased with the gift of love I am offering to my family and loved ones.

What would you say to someone who wishes they could create like that, but doesn’t know where to start?

Start simple. In the early years of my marriage I had a subscription to “Cooking Light” magazine. (My dad had his first heart attack when I was a freshman in college and Dan and I have always tried to eat in a way that protected our health.) I learned SO much from reading those issues for years and years and just trying recipes. The cultures of the world have incredible flavors and spices and smells to open your heart and mind and palate. Try new things. Don’t be afraid to “fail” and create a product that isn’t your favorite. Each recipe you try is a learning experience that prepares you for the next and then the next. Also, plants are amazing. Go to a farm or farmers’ market and try the weird looking alien purple vegetable you’ve never seen before. Embrace the full breadth of God’s creation because there is so much to enjoy. It’s nurturing and beautiful and your body and your spirit will thank you. Your family might, too.

Creative and generous God, thank you for planting your creativity in us, so that when we create we can feel closer to you and your delight in us. Bless Florie while she is in her kitchen. Renew her senses everyday to enjoy the smells, colors, textures, and tastes of the multitudes of different foods that you have provided. May every dish she makes be an act of worship, a sweet offering to you, Lord. Thank you for her example as she participates in your abundance. May your love and peace meet her, her family, and every guest around her table.

How do you create + play? Interview with Adiel

So often, we think of creativity as something we produce, like a finished piece, a result, or something to show. But what if creativity is just as much about how we pay attention? How we notice beauty, feel freedom, and make space to be fully present?

In this interview, I spoke with an artist whose painting practice began as a way to express himself and has grown into something much deeper. Through paint, texture, color, and even the joyful interruptions of his children, he has found a rhythm of creating that holds peace, connection, and faith, sometimes without many words at all.

His reflections are a reminder that creating doesn’t have to be perfect or polished to be meaningful. It can be messy, embodied, shared, and holy in the quietest ways. This conversation is an invitation to linger, to notice, and to trust that simply showing up to create is enough.

• What first drew you to painting and what keeps you coming back to it now?

  It’s hard to say just one thing that draws me to painting. I started painting, as far as I can remember, when I was 10 years old. At first, it was the need to express myself in a different way. As I grew older, I began noticing simple but beautiful things. Painting is like an outlet for me to feel freedom and peace; it helps me highlight the beauty I find in the simple things around me.  

• What happens in you when you’re painting? What do you notice, feel, or pay attention to?

  When I paint, my mind just flies. I feel light, and I can clearly see the picture my hands are creating, even though it’s not finished. The colors I use, the textures, the smell in my studio, and the giggles of my daughters—who often distract me—are all part of the process. Those moments are good, because I come back with fresh ideas.  

• You sometimes paint with your little girls. What do you think happens when people create things side by side?

I think this is one of my favorite things to do as an artist: sharing my tools and knowledge with little ones. Art is so important for young people. Creating with my daughters is chaotic and, at the same time, beautiful. They see things that I don’t see, mix colors that make no sense, and draw things that feel out of this world. When we are creating, we are together not only physically but also spiritually—if that makes sense. We don’t talk much; we just get lost in the midst of colors, splashes of paint, and more.

• Has painting ever helped you slow down, notice beauty, or connect with something bigger than yourself?

As an artist, sometimes it’s hard to slow down—we are always thinking about the next project and what else we can paint or build. Painting does help you slow down when you allow it to. I use the time when I’m alone in my studio to connect with my faith and talk to God about how He wants me to use my talents. I ask for guidance, or sometimes I simply thank Him.

• If you can imagine Jesus sitting beside you while you paint, what do you think he is doing/saying/thinking?

This is a beautiful picture. After I finished reading this question, I immediately pictured this scene: God beside me, looking at me with loving eyes, observing—not saying anything, just being—and that is enough for me.

• What would you say to someone who wishes they could create like that, but doesn’t know where to start?

Art is not perfect—it’s messy, and most importantly, it’s for you. It’s about how it makes you feel. So if you have the thought or curiosity to draw, paint, or simply create something, please go for it. I started painting with charcoal because it was inexpensive and all my parents could afford. Hopefully this motivates you to create and inspire others.

Thank you again, Adiel, for sharing your painting and wisdom with us!

I am hoping to continue with this series and send each person off with a blessing of their hobby. So Adiel, here is my prayer for you:

Creative and beautiful God, thank you for planting your creativity in us, so that when we create we can feel closer to you and your delight in us. Bless the holy work of painting for Adiel. Help him to continually feel your pleasure as he joins you in creating beauty. Thank you for his eyes that see beauty in the world, and the way he helps us see it, too. Bless the time he spends painting with his daughters, and may it instill in them a love of you, as they feel your delight, too. And may your love and peace surround Adiel and his family with every brushstroke of paint.

How do you create + play? Interview with Julie

Oftentimes what we think of as “only a hobby” is really a gentle pathway to prayer. I’ve been so delighted by how often simple, hands-on making becomes a doorway into presence, wonder, and connection with God.

This month, I interviewed someone whose practice has quietly become all of those things. Through cross-stitch, she has discovered a rhythm that helps her slow down, notice beauty, remember her seasons, and connect with others in meaningful ways.

Her story is a reminder that creativity is sacred. Sometimes the slow, repetitive work of making something with your hands becomes a way of making space in your soul. I hope you enjoy and are encouraged.

What first drew you to cross-stitching — and what keeps you coming back to it now?

I learned to cross stitch when I was in high school. My cousin picked up the hobby, and I was drawn to her pieces. There was something peaceful about it, perhaps reminding me of times long ago. I recognized beauty in the labour of it - the hours of handwork it requires. So, she taught me. I stitched for a time, but life got busy and I lost interest.

Years later, I visited a friend in her home and noticed a gorgeous, cross-stitched piece on her wall. It sparked my interest again.

Today my stitching is different. Tastes/preferences change, of course, but I have also become much more creative with it. I love the variety of textures and colors. I've discovered beautiful hand-dyed linens and flosses that allow me to design or adapt projects.  Also, some projects just make my heart happy. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. I have completed projects on occasion that left me sad to be finished. I just enjoyed working on them. I think that is what draws me back.

What happens in you when you’re stitching — what do you notice, feel, or pay attention to?

Stitching is rhythmic, almost like breathing. It is comforting, calming and orderly, requiring only a bit of focus to count stitches and follow a pattern. It usually doesn't require too much brain power, allowing my mind to ponder other things alongside. They say that when we do repetitive tasks, we think more clearly. I believe this is true! Going for a walk can clear your head and so can stitching. 

You sometimes stitch in community — what do you think happens when people make things side by side?

This is new for me within the last 18 months. We have a local cross stitch store that is always buzzing with ladies AND men (yes, men cross stitch too). It is a place of encouragement and conversation. Our particular group meets weekly to stitch, usually for 3 or 4 hours. We admire each other's WIPs (work-in-progress), inspire one another to expand our abilities, and mostly just chat about life. I find connection with people I have nothing else in common with except stitching, and we have a wonderful time!

The cross-stitch community is big. There are large stitching retreats in conference centers and ballrooms all over the US, Canada and Europe. Stitch-Con, one of the largest, sells out every year. These retreats feature designers who share their purposeful designs alongside stories of meaning. And of course, these retreats offer hours and hours of time to stitch with others.

Has cross-stitching ever helped you slow down, notice beauty, or connect with something bigger than yourself?

Absolutely! Whatever I am stitching sets a mood. When I stitched a "names of Christ" sampler, I pondered each name. When stitching the wisdom prayer, I was in prayer. When stitching a gift for someone, I am mindful of that person and grateful for that relationship. And of course, stiching flowers, bees, trees, birds etc. give me a sense of beauty that is all around us. It reminds me to notice.

It's interesting, my completed pieces are reminders of life's past seasons.  One piece was calming to me when nervous on an airplane. There is a piece I worked on while at the hospital bedside of my father-in-law. The stitching was slow and lingering that day, stitching while he slept. I can probably tell you when I stitched most of my projects and can relate them to what was happening around me. 

If you can imagine Jesus sitting beside you while you cross-stitch, what do you think he is doing/saying/thinking?

Is there anything better than sitting with Jesus and simply enjoying His presence? I imagine Him just being there, enjoying the moment with me. Nothing needs to be said because His presence is deeper than words. Mostly, I feel His pleasure, and I am assured of His love.

What would you say to someone who wishes they could create like that, but doesn’t know where to start?

One can learn a lot from Flosstube videos (on YouTube). There are many talented stitchers offering inspiration and instruction with a wide variety of design style. Be careful though - this can suck you in!  I would suggest, if possible, finding a cross stitcher or a local needlework store that can offer instruction or tips. Start with something small on Aida 14-count fabric. Patterns can be ordered online and some are even offered free. Find one that makes your heart nsging. Hobby Lobby or Michaels have DMC floss, needles and hoops. 

Most important is how you approach a project. While certainly there is a sense of accomplishment from finishing a piece, there is much joy in the process of creating. Linger in it!

Thank you again, Julie, for sharing your hobby and wisdom with us!

I am hoping to continue with this series and send each person off with a blessing of their hobby. So Julie, here is my prayer for you:

Creative God, thank you for planting your creativity in us, so that when we create, we join you in holy play. Bless the holy play of cross-stitching in Julie’s hands. May she feel your full delight in her, your precious daughter, as she echoes your creativity. May her cross-stitching community grow and bring you glory. And may your love and peace surround her, flow through her, and touch others who are with her, with every stitch she makes.