Dewitt Jones and the light in literature
I am so lucky to be able to find countless outlets for my work with children and literature in my family life...not just my career.
This last weekend was one of those such times. I work every week with a three-year-old program in my contemporary church. It's a great group of kids as they are full of such natural humor and innocent enthusiasm. The work keeps me actively writing and storytelling for the youngest audience and they recharge me as much as the reverse...if not more.
One of the great advantages of working with an organization is that you receive invitations, often free, to educational and leadership seminars and I find, that as an artist and a youth leader, these conferences and lectures are filled with an abundance of value which I can easily apply to my own field.
Dewitt Jones was one of the speakers for this past weekend's "Green Room" conference - a meeting of Christian artists. Mr. Jones spent a lifetime as a photographer for National Geographic and he taught about creativity coming from light. (A later speaker discussed art from darkness, as well...I'll speak about that another day.)
While some of what he shared is best in the context of his overall presentation, I wanted to give to you guys some of the great quotes from his program, "Hallelujah: What's Right with the World". I have more to share on his overall content when I bring in the contrary speaker on a later blog. The overall combination of speakers really helped to shape - in words - what my view of storytelling is all about and I can't wait to tell you all about it!
Enjoy the quotes of Dewitt Jones for now:
"Love is about passion and passion is about energy. So, you must begin each day with energy; or, a full cup."
"You can't fall in love with your work unless you come to your work with love."
"How do you fall in love with what you do? Hang out with folks who love what they do."
"Do not go into the world trying to make a difference. Go into each day trying to make a contribution and the rest will happen as it's meant to...you never know what will happen when you give, just give."
"Do the things that bring you joy, but - more importantly - find joy in the things you do."
"Quit flapping and start soaring."
"Celebrate what's right with the world instead of wallowing in what's wrong with it."
"The light that matters most is not the spotlight that shines on us, but the light that shines from within us on the world." (By the way, a personal note...I have always shared a similar view and talk about it in my book, "The Pinecone Legend".)
"Creativity is just falling in love with the world again and again and connecting to the energy of that moment."
Dewitt Jones quoting a meditation teacher: "We all could use the one breath meditation. Take it all in and give it all back."
And last - outside of a segment on understanding kids and understanding vision which I will share at a later time - he shared this:
"God never said, 'There is one great photograph in this forest for one great photographer and the rest lose out.' No. He asked, 'How many roles of film have you got? I'll fill 'em up!'" (This one I liked as I occasionally have students of my workshop feel bad that, during group work, their ideas are different from those of their classmates. I find that this might be a great way to explain to them that there IS NO ONE ANSWER when it comes to creativity. While I've expressed this in the past, I like the new approach.)
It was wonderful to hear Mr. Dewitt Jones speak and I look forward, also, to sharing notes in the future from the lectures of Dan Allender and Nancy Ortberg.
May you all have a passionate, light-filled day!
In writing,
Reji
This last weekend was one of those such times. I work every week with a three-year-old program in my contemporary church. It's a great group of kids as they are full of such natural humor and innocent enthusiasm. The work keeps me actively writing and storytelling for the youngest audience and they recharge me as much as the reverse...if not more.
One of the great advantages of working with an organization is that you receive invitations, often free, to educational and leadership seminars and I find, that as an artist and a youth leader, these conferences and lectures are filled with an abundance of value which I can easily apply to my own field.
Dewitt Jones was one of the speakers for this past weekend's "Green Room" conference - a meeting of Christian artists. Mr. Jones spent a lifetime as a photographer for National Geographic and he taught about creativity coming from light. (A later speaker discussed art from darkness, as well...I'll speak about that another day.)
While some of what he shared is best in the context of his overall presentation, I wanted to give to you guys some of the great quotes from his program, "Hallelujah: What's Right with the World". I have more to share on his overall content when I bring in the contrary speaker on a later blog. The overall combination of speakers really helped to shape - in words - what my view of storytelling is all about and I can't wait to tell you all about it!
Enjoy the quotes of Dewitt Jones for now:
"Love is about passion and passion is about energy. So, you must begin each day with energy; or, a full cup."
"You can't fall in love with your work unless you come to your work with love."
"How do you fall in love with what you do? Hang out with folks who love what they do."
"Do not go into the world trying to make a difference. Go into each day trying to make a contribution and the rest will happen as it's meant to...you never know what will happen when you give, just give."
"Do the things that bring you joy, but - more importantly - find joy in the things you do."
"Quit flapping and start soaring."
"Celebrate what's right with the world instead of wallowing in what's wrong with it."
"The light that matters most is not the spotlight that shines on us, but the light that shines from within us on the world." (By the way, a personal note...I have always shared a similar view and talk about it in my book, "The Pinecone Legend".)
"Creativity is just falling in love with the world again and again and connecting to the energy of that moment."
Dewitt Jones quoting a meditation teacher: "We all could use the one breath meditation. Take it all in and give it all back."
And last - outside of a segment on understanding kids and understanding vision which I will share at a later time - he shared this:
"God never said, 'There is one great photograph in this forest for one great photographer and the rest lose out.' No. He asked, 'How many roles of film have you got? I'll fill 'em up!'" (This one I liked as I occasionally have students of my workshop feel bad that, during group work, their ideas are different from those of their classmates. I find that this might be a great way to explain to them that there IS NO ONE ANSWER when it comes to creativity. While I've expressed this in the past, I like the new approach.)
It was wonderful to hear Mr. Dewitt Jones speak and I look forward, also, to sharing notes in the future from the lectures of Dan Allender and Nancy Ortberg.
May you all have a passionate, light-filled day!
In writing,
Reji
posted by Reji Laberje, Author at
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