Afflatus According to My Students

Dear Reader,

Last week, I was reading from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening and came across the word, afflatus. Amused at how it sounded and having no clue as to it's meaning, I looked it up. According to good ol' Merriam-Webster Afflatus means a divine imparting of knowledge or power; inspiration.

Excited about my new discovery, I shared it with most everyone I met that day. Our literature teacher hadn't even heard of it. That afternoon, after finishing all planned exercises in my middle school drama class, I found we had ten extra minutes to devote to my new favorite word. I wrote the eight letters on the board and asked if anyone had an idea of what it meant. And no, Johnny, you are thinking of  flatulence, not afflatus. Close, but no cigar. Thank you for that. Back on track everyone!

A brief discussion ensued as to its true meaning and I asked the students to write a one page thought journal on the subject. Clearly some things were lost in translation.

However, I proudly present to you, Afflatus according to M and E original spellings and all.

Afflatus by M-

I think God gives us inspiration for creativity through the Holy Spirit. The way the Holy Spirit give it to us is through divine inspiration. The way this works is we are all born with creativity and the Holy Spirit just awakens it. The way he awakens it is through coming into our hearts by order of God and he awakens this creative gene in us. He knows when we need inspiration and by he I mean God. He feel as though he needs to help us. It is not a duty of his it is our priveledge to have such a wunderful God. That he is the most wonderful he is the most High and should be the most lifted up. That is why when you feel creative imbrace it. Paint A painting, write a paper do what he is inspiring you to do and never give up.

Afflatus by E-

Divine inspiration, or afflatus, is, of course from God, and has been very important in our relationship with God. For example, the bible is made out of afflatus, and the bible is one of our main connections to Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Spirit. But afflatus is a tricky thing. Some may think that some are born with afflatus and some are not, but I don't think that is entirely true. I know that some people are more creative than others, but not all inspiration is divine. I think some people are simply given more afflatusis (plural?) than others, and yet at the same time, are able to recognize it when they see it. Sometimes it is hard to know whether or not inspiration is from God of not, but I think the difference is that afflatus is never random. Afflatus also means to create and God created the earth and everything in it. Him creating the world was not random. Afflatus is given to the people that God knows will need it, whether or not they listen.

On the back of E's paper were these two poems, clearly demonstrating the God has divinely chosen to dispense a measure of daily afflatus to her. 

The little hand clutches

Your fingers

Trying to clutch a promise to keep

An almost life of hopes and dreams

An almost life of songs to sing

An almost life of tears she cries

May God continue to inspire you, and may you "imbrace" His daily leading.

Regards,

Mrs. Ting