Imagination is a power that far exceeds whatever powers DC or Marvel can conjure up in their superheroes, since all those powers are simply products of an author's imagination. Imagination is akin to the ice-cold spring in the blazing desert of reality. Harnessed properly, imagination causes oases to spring forth and bring color to an otherwise bleak world.
I stress on the part "harnessed properly". Imagination can be misused, even abused. Pornography is the most common manner in which this power is abused, but I digress. The misuse of imagination should be a crime, but how does one legislate something that is in our nature, imparted to us because we are made in God's image? One can only educate accordingly, to draw clear boundaries in which imagination should operate, and then the person must decide whether to be wise or foolish with his or her power.
Imagination is the power that is present in every person, because we are made to overcome the hurdles of life. Without imagination, we will not have the innumerable inventions that permeate our modern lives. Yet imagination has been misused, ever more so in this generation than any before it. Imagination is inextricably tied to our desires, and what has the desires of this generation become?
Set free without moral obligations to society and God, our imaginations have become the ultimate refuge for a generation to hide and grow comfortable in. We have turned into Gideons, threshing wheat in the wine press. Where a place of abundance ought to be, we have turned to it for survival.
The youth of this generation waste their lives on small-minded games on electronic screens, then gawk in amazement at people their age who have done great things with their imaginations.
The adults of this generation yearn to own more material things, and so spend their imagination, time and energy on accreting ever larger hoards of earthly treasure.
We have wasted the power of imagination, having made our desire to please (and thereby serve) the self greater than our obligations to society and God. All hope is not lost, for Christ the Redeemer uplifts our hearts and minds so that we have a choice. A choice to serve God and His greater will, or our petty self-absorbed wills. Just as Gideon made the choice to serve God when He visited him, so must we do the same when God speaks to us in our hearts through His still, small voice.
I stress on the part "harnessed properly". Imagination can be misused, even abused. Pornography is the most common manner in which this power is abused, but I digress. The misuse of imagination should be a crime, but how does one legislate something that is in our nature, imparted to us because we are made in God's image? One can only educate accordingly, to draw clear boundaries in which imagination should operate, and then the person must decide whether to be wise or foolish with his or her power.
Imagination is the power that is present in every person, because we are made to overcome the hurdles of life. Without imagination, we will not have the innumerable inventions that permeate our modern lives. Yet imagination has been misused, ever more so in this generation than any before it. Imagination is inextricably tied to our desires, and what has the desires of this generation become?
Set free without moral obligations to society and God, our imaginations have become the ultimate refuge for a generation to hide and grow comfortable in. We have turned into Gideons, threshing wheat in the wine press. Where a place of abundance ought to be, we have turned to it for survival.
The youth of this generation waste their lives on small-minded games on electronic screens, then gawk in amazement at people their age who have done great things with their imaginations.
The adults of this generation yearn to own more material things, and so spend their imagination, time and energy on accreting ever larger hoards of earthly treasure.
We have wasted the power of imagination, having made our desire to please (and thereby serve) the self greater than our obligations to society and God. All hope is not lost, for Christ the Redeemer uplifts our hearts and minds so that we have a choice. A choice to serve God and His greater will, or our petty self-absorbed wills. Just as Gideon made the choice to serve God when He visited him, so must we do the same when God speaks to us in our hearts through His still, small voice.
Postscript: I am no saint, nor can I say that I have accolades to my name. But I do not want to waste the life that God the Father has breathed in me. Since you exist in the same plane as I do, bound by the same rules that I am, I urge you not to conduct your life as a wastrel does. On a separate note, this is only a progression of this post from years back.
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