Inspired by Steve Jobs

Creative people change the world. The critics have their moments, the bitter and the power-hungry leave scars, and the takers eventually vanish into obscurity, but it is the acts of creativity that shape the world. It's for that reason that we should take note of the life of Steve Jobs.

Some Christians will argue that it is dangerous to hold up as examples people who are not known for their faith, some even feel the need to run them down, but that only reflects a poverty of spirit and a lack of respect for the image of God in each of us. We can celebrate the gift of humanity without diminishing or ignoring the need for salvation.

Like many of my generation I count creative people among my heroes. Jim Henson, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Steve Jobs are all high on that list, and they all teach one important lesson: Creativity is more powerful than critique. It's not that critique is unimportant, but it never built anything. In the end, we fail if we don't build more than we tear down. That's an important message for the church today. We need fewer angry old men (and many fewer angry young men) and more people of vision.

Steve Jobs inspires me because he was a man of vision. He had a picture of the future he wanted to share with the world. I have no idea how long we have, but I need to live my life as if we have another thousand years before Jesus ushers in the next great age of humanity. Inspiration comes from people of vision. If you believe it's all over and we just need to hold on until the final curtain comes crashing down, then you will waste the gift of life you have been given. With Jesus it's about life, living, and vision.

Even when Jobs had made his fortune, when he was comfortable for life, and when he was ill, he still gave his life to create. Vision added meaning to his life. Our vision may look small or large to others, it may touch a neighborhood or a continent, it may be directed to toward the forgotten or the masses - that doesn't really matter - what matters is that you have a vision, that you have given yourself to create something in someone's life.

One of the important life lessons that Steve Jobs learned was that vision is not accomplished on his own. He had two careers. The first was innovative, but self-centered. People were obstacles to be conquered or workers to whipped into shape. He lost Apple as a result. When he returned, he returned a bit more humble. He highlighted the accomplishments of the team and began to focus attention on others. He became a man known for bringing men and women (corporations are in the end just groups of people) together to bring music, film, TV, books, magazines, and newspapers into the digital age. Vision is accomplished by community. Communities need leaders, many leaders of many types, servant leaders who do not see themselves as the answer, leaders who value community. The lone rebel makes a noise for a time, but communities change the world.

Creativity changes the world. If we are too poor in spirit to celebrate creativity wherever we see it, then we are most likely to become smaller, bitter, withered. If we fail to see and honor creativity, then we are unlikely to recognize the extent of Jesus’ creativity, generosity, and vision. That would be tragedy because we would be left with a vision of Jesus as stingy and judgmental rather than the generous Lord of light, love, joy, and vision. Jesus should guide and shape our creativity, but celebrate the creative - celebrate vision.