There it is again: the word imagination in something I'm reading.
This time, however, the imagination is cast in a cautionary light. This time the writer is warning about the role of imagination in drawing us away from God.
Here's the concept: when you think about the future, when you imagine what tomorrow may hold, it is easy to let human fears intrude. How often has that happened to me! It's the "what-if" syndrome. It's that scary-in-the-middle-of-the-night anxiety.
I've noticed that when I am in that mode, I never dream up rosy outcomes. No! Somehow the worst-case-scenario always seems most likely when I'm awake at 3 a.m.
So, the caution is this: if imagination is paired with fear, it rarely leads to a closer faith-walk with God. In fact, when our fears loom large, they seem to obscure God completely!
What I take from this post and the one prior is that our imagination is neutral -- neither all good, nor all bad. It's the combinations that are important. (Imagination plus fear: bad. Imagination plus deep knowledge of scripture: good.)
Like most things in this life, there is a choice involved. Let's strive for that "disciplined imagination" and the benefits it offers.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Imagination
Lately I've noticed that many of my favorite writers have used the word "imagination" in the course of writing about prayer, worship, and relationship with God.
At first, finding that word in that context startled me, even disconcerted me.
I've always thought of my imagination as unreliable, given to 'flights of fancy' and characterized by my own 'wild imaginings.' I've always categorized my imagination as the opposite of the facts -- and therefore unreliable.
These writers -- all excellent Bible students themselves -- have forced me to struggle with what they are saying, invited me to reconsider these ideas. They seem to be acknowleging that our imaginations were created by God, that our imaginations can add value to our prayers, our meditation, our time spent with God.
Because imagination can be subjective, fictional, skewed, I don't think it can be the only ingredient in our search for spiritual growth, but I wonder if our imaginations might make the difference in our understanding God more fully. Our imaginations might be where the spark happens that reveals God not as a two-dimensional being, but as having three- or more dimensions.
Perhaps my imagination is where the Holy Spirit whispers His deeper understandings of scripture. Perhaps my imagination is where God makes his presence in my daily life more noticable. . . where the words on the page of my Bible become alive for me.
Is there such a thing as a "disciplined imagination" (or is that an oxymoron?) -- that is, an imagination that works within the framework of Biblical text ? An imagination that doesn't just take off on its own strange journey about God, but draws on the Bible for guidance and then grows from there ?
I think my experience says yes.
At first, finding that word in that context startled me, even disconcerted me.
I've always thought of my imagination as unreliable, given to 'flights of fancy' and characterized by my own 'wild imaginings.' I've always categorized my imagination as the opposite of the facts -- and therefore unreliable.
These writers -- all excellent Bible students themselves -- have forced me to struggle with what they are saying, invited me to reconsider these ideas. They seem to be acknowleging that our imaginations were created by God, that our imaginations can add value to our prayers, our meditation, our time spent with God.
Because imagination can be subjective, fictional, skewed, I don't think it can be the only ingredient in our search for spiritual growth, but I wonder if our imaginations might make the difference in our understanding God more fully. Our imaginations might be where the spark happens that reveals God not as a two-dimensional being, but as having three- or more dimensions.
Perhaps my imagination is where the Holy Spirit whispers His deeper understandings of scripture. Perhaps my imagination is where God makes his presence in my daily life more noticable. . . where the words on the page of my Bible become alive for me.
Is there such a thing as a "disciplined imagination" (or is that an oxymoron?) -- that is, an imagination that works within the framework of Biblical text ? An imagination that doesn't just take off on its own strange journey about God, but draws on the Bible for guidance and then grows from there ?
I think my experience says yes.
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