Credo

One of our assignments in Design first year was to write a list of ten things we believed. Beliefs, ideas, that can be challenged and argued about. Every so often we get these kinds of assignments. First semester of first year Design it was list 30 things you are now aware of, having been in college for a semester. Then the list of ten things we believed. Fall of second year it was list 5 (I think, and I added a 6th) things you want to say to the world. Spring of second year it was a list of 15 things to never forget about collaboration, accompanied by a list of five things you're working on improving in your own collaborative work. These lists are fabulous benchmarks, and good opportunities to gather and organize your thoughts. I've made lists on my own on this blog before.

The list of things you believe is actually a kind of personal creed. Creeds are always one of my favorite parts of worship services and I get upset when they're not there. (As people at Bon Air can attest to.) But a creed is, simply put, a statement of beliefs.

Since I'm retaking first year Design, I have now had to make another list of ten things I believe. After making this new list, I took a look at my old list. The difference between the two lists is huge. It was easier to make this list, partially because I have this blog and I realize that there are really about four ideas that I just keep rephrasing over and over and over on here because I think they're really important. And I thought I'd share the two lists here, as there might be interest, even though it really exposes the fact that I'm just saying the same thing time and time again.

SPRING 2008 LIST

1. I believe in God.
2. I believe that blood ties do not matter. [it's the connections you make that matter]
3. I believe that truly acting outside of the self is the key to strength.
4. I believe that denial of the self through altruism is just as bad as denial of the self through purposefully harmful means.
5. I believe that nothing is constant.
6. I believe that nothing is absolute (but there can still be beliefs).
7. I believe that art should be judged on its own terms.
8. I believe that theatre artists should never deny the fact that they are in the theatre.
9. I believe that there's a difference between directing and dictating.
10. I believe that drive is more important than natural ability.

SPRING 2011 LIST

1. I believe in God.
2. I believe that God is manifest inside every thing that exists. (or: I believe we are all manifestations of the Divine. or: I believe that we all contain a spark of the Infinite. This is a belief I state many times in many different languages.)
3. I believe that God is greater than any one concept of God and therefore can possibly be grasped more fully by those who do not profess belief in a higher power they label as "God".
4. I believe that every single person has value and worth that can benefit us personally.
5. I believe that we will only move forward if we recognize the humanity in each other. Personally, societally, globally.
6. I believe that the two most powerful things in the world are belief and choice.
7. I believe that people and groups who think they have nothing in common should talk to each other. (well, I believe everyone should talk to each other, but especially those.)
8. I believe that it is not art that matters, but it's people that matter, and tremendously so, and art can be used to care for people.
9. I believe that it is possible to kiss God.
10. I believe that I am called to a life of indiscriminately loving others, selflessly, far more than they love me.

Well. That's what four years of theatre school, 2 summers with Presbyterians, and 4 months in Africa will do to a person. I am pleased with the difference. It's not that I don't believe the things on the first list anymore, but they're (mostly) not where I focus my energy. And I am pleased with the one that has remained the same.