janbeek

Welcome to Day #9 in the A-Z series,
“Adding Meaning and Finding Purpose in Life.”

Today’s letter is “I”

Imagination + Intention = Inspiration

It’s hard to imagine a child without imagination.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to their ability to play make-believe.

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Mary Ann & Frederic Brussat in their book, Spiritual Literacy, wrote,

“Give imagination free rein in your life.
Explore its images and ponder its meaning-making moments,
and it will always present you with something
new to be seen, felt, or made known.”

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The Imagination of a Child

Our little Superman with the plastic cape reminds me of our 4 year-old friend, Cord. He can turn a beanbag chair into a pirate’s cave in two seconds. With the intention of hiding from his Sunday School teachers when we walked into the room, his imagination takes hold, and under the beanbag he tucks himself, and with a flurry and a pirate’s roar jumps out to surprise us. Of course, we always fake surprise – and welcome the pirate onto the children’s wooden bench in the classroom.

Can We or Will We?

The question is not, “Can we imagine things as little chldren do?” The question is “Will we?” Will we keep our imagination alive and allow it to help us see the pirate’s cave in the beanbag chair? Will we maintain the intention to use our imaginations to inspire us to greater creativity?

In the Bible, Matthew 18:1-4 says, “At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child and had them stand among them. And He said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus was not suggesting the disciples become “childish.” He was telling them they need to be “child-like.” There’s a big difference.

To be “child-like” is to be humble. It is to be imaginative and playful, happy and trusting, open and engaged. Will we allow our imagination free rein to help us see things anew, feel things more deeply, and know people more openly? Can we? Will we?

Imagination used with positive intentions is magical! It is one of the keys to living life more fully with greater joy.

Add the Magic of Intention

Imagination becomes indescribably incredible when it is applied intentionally to create a better world around us.

Some one had to imagine that first wheel and intentionally chisel away the squareness of the stone to make it round so it would roll, don’t you think?

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Someone had to look at this world as it is and decide, “That’s not the way I want it,” and intentionally create a way to improve it. They imagined a clock before a clock was developed.

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They imagined a computer smaller than the one that took up a whole room before the Apple was invented. They imagined a computer combined with a phone that could fit in the palm of your hand. They used their imagination with intention and were inspired to see if that fictional Dick Tracy watch that I grew up seeing in the comic books could actually become a reality.

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Imagination needs intention
before the two can equal
the inspiration that
changes your life and mine.

You Decide

Some changes are positive. Some are not. Everything in this world can be used for good or evil. It is up to us to decide how we use our imaginations. What intentions we have.  What thoughts linger and direct us. And where our inspiration leads us.

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I pray that
we can use our gift
of imagination
to inspire us
to fulfill our purpose
intentionally
and glorify God
each day
of our indescribable,
incredible lives.
Don’t you?

Will you imagine that?