Imagine

Day 41. Imagine.

Similar to dreams, we can imagine great things. We can imagine a world free of pain, free of sorrow. We can imagine a world without starvation, without pollution. From Illusions: Imagine the universe beautiful and just and perfect. Then realize that the Is has imagined it just a bit better than you have. (Note to readers that aren't familiar with Illusions, the Is refers to God.)

If I imagine a better world, it has lots of children. And animals. And chocolate. In my better world, we'd all drive purple '65 Mustangs and ride cherry red panheads. We'd have gardens full of purple flowers all year round, and fresh strawberries any time we wanted them. We'd share that world with those we love that have gone before us, and share our laughter with those we hold dear yet again. And forever.

My imaginary world has a baseball team, where I can see my favorite players anytime I want. The racetrack in my world has Dale Earnhardt and Tim Richmond fighting it out on the last lap. Over there's the airport, where rides are always free and the skies are always clear. The fishing hole out back is full of striped bass that are hungry. Every day at the creek, the trout are biting like it's opening day. Oh yeah, no mosquitoes in this world either.

I realize that to imagine a beautiful and just and perfect world is really just an "illusion" if you can call it that. We can no more control the world that surrounds us than we can control the tide. We can surely imagine that perfection, but must realize it impossible to fulfill. But without the promise of more, of a better place, of an honorable place where the waters run clear and the air smells of fresh linens, what would life be but lonely indeed?

I believe that God does see a better world than we can imagine. That doesn't mean we should stop imagining our own. Without that hope of a more beautiful, more just and more perfect world, we are just passengers on this journey. I don't think God intends us to be passengers: I think He means for us to be our own Captains.


We all know that life is fragile, and time is fleeting (bonus points if you know where that reference comes from.) We have but one chance at this life, so we have to put every effort into it. We have to learn quickly, love deeply, grab the brass ring as quickly as possible. And never EVER can we take the things we love for granted. We can imagine that we have them forever, but that's not a reality. Our fragile human bodies aren't set up for the long haul, and there are no guarantees, even if we do get the improved models. We have to be ALL IN from the beginning, and not let go. Ever.


Lesson Forty One: Can you imagine a world with the things that make it perfect for you? Will you settle for less than that? Why should you? Think about the things and people that make your world better, and remember to never let them forget it. Just imagine how wonderful things will be when you succeed.

689 to go...