I’ve been reading a lot about writing and creativity lately. Currently, I’m going through Show Your Work by Austin Kleon, and I found this quote that immediately sparked something in my mind:
“We’re all terrified of being revealed as amateurs, but in fact, today it is the amateur…who often has the advantage over the professional. Because they have little to lose, amateurs are willing to take risks and share the results. They take chances, experiment, and follow their whims…‘In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities,’ said Zen monk Shunryu Suzuki. ‘In the expert’s mind, there are few.’”
For some reason, I immediately thought of that scene in The Dark Knight Rises where Bruce Wayne is trying to climb out of the Pit.
After a painful failure, Bruce finally learns that the reason he hasn’t been able to climb out of the pit, which requires a hitherto impossible jump from one ledge to another, is that he doesn’t fear death. It’s only with the fear of death that he is told he’ll be able to make the jump, and it just so happens that this advice proves true.
Where does that leave us? If we want to be creative, if we want to venture into new territory and urge the Church to rise up to the creative example of her God, we need to make the leap, embracing both the boundless optimism and fear of the amateur. Then, we’ll be able to “move faster than possible, fight longer than possible.”
Get out there and create. Leap without the rope. Take risks; learn from failure.
Eric Dye says
This gave me chills. 😀
Phil Schneider says
😀