Know when I see people at their happiest? When they are so lost in their imaginations that almost nothing else grabs their attention. My heart absolutely is bursting with pride when I watch one of the television episodes my daughter’s imagination helped produce, or to see the imagination and fun my son contributes to a major computer gaming company. More for me, it’s the joy and satisfaction I see in my children when their imaginations are alive and well and in the creative process.
It’s magical to me to watch children creating a gift or a drawing or getting lost in a fantasy book that sparks their own imaginations of flying creatures, beautiful scenery, victory over villains.
And I notice, when I’m in my own imagination, lost in my inner worlds, I am truly happy and feel my purpose for living becoming more clear. The joy is then in working so hard to bring that imagination to life. Harold Klemp wrote, “Soul is creative, infinitely creative. Our creative imagination is our gift from God. The imagination is the God-Spark, the part of us that makes us like God. And you can direct it toward whatever needs improvement in your life.” Touching the Face of God, p. 12. That’s a powerful view of imagination for me.
In the Master Key System, Haanel shares that “Constructive imagination means mental labor, by some considered to be the hardest kind of labor, but, if so, it yields the greatest returns, for all the great things in life have come to men and women who had the capacity to think, to imagine, and to make their dreams come true.” (8-15)
“In order to cultivate the imagination it must be exercised. Exercise is necessary to cultivate mental muscle as well as physical muscle. It must be supplied with nourishment or it cannot grow.” (8-13) Through the Master Key Experience course, I’m learning to work on this for at least 20 minutes per day. Small price to pay for such an incredible tool.
Imagination and creativity. What wonderful gifts we have. As the holiday season opens, I’m encouraged to let mine start to run rampant. Where is your imagination taking you? Have fun with it!
Beautifully written, Day.
When Kat and I ask a stranger what their dream is, they usually hesitate briefly, then a haze comes over their eyes and it’s clear their imagination is in full swing as they talk about their dream.