Check Engine Light
-An exclusive excerpt from Allen’s new book-
When something is off with our creativity, it’s hard to know what to do.
It’s the same feeling we get when something’s off with our vehicles. Unless we’re a trained mechanic, all we know to do is pop the hood and stare at the unfamiliar components for a second. We have no idea what we’re looking for. So we add some windshield wiper fluid, close the hood, and hope for the best.
But the check engine light doesn’t go away. We just get better at averting our eyes and convincing ourselves it’s the light—not the engine—that’s glitching. There’s no time or resources to fix whatever it is. So we continue down the road, pretending all is well.
I’m going through an actual check engine light issue now with my daughter’s vehicle. It came on almost three months ago and is still a mystery. My Yoda-like mechanic is a master craftsman, but this one has stumped him and everyone else he’s brought in to help. The thing is, her car appears to be running fine. And the code that shows up is vague. So after hundreds of hours of phone calls and various fixes, why don’t we just assume all is okay and move on?
Because all is not okay. Something is wrong, and ignoring it will lead to two problems. First, whatever is going on will likely get worse. Second, if the check engine light is always on, future issues will be missed. So we must address it. No matter how much time it takes, we must commit to finding and fixing the problem. The stakes are too high to miss or dismiss it.
The same is true for our creativity. The “check engine light” reveals what is compromising our ideas, energy, and efforts. When we miss or dismiss the cues, we get stuck. And that is what causes our creativity to glitch.
So what are the seven general categories that the warning light may be signaling?
(From The Creativity Glitch: How to Stop Being Stuck, Find Your Groove, & Create with God.Copyright © 2026 Allen Arnold.)
This reading was crafted to encourage your pursuit of story and creativity with God. Your donation makes this crowd-funded initiative possible. You can support it via PAYPAL (or by check to Allen Arnold at PO Box 62841, Colorado Springs, CO 80962).
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