Pure imagination11/4/2022 ![]() ![]() In their book, Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat quote poet Percy Shelley: “The great instrument of moral good is imagination.” They take a lesson from that: “We often forget that there are creative ways of bringing about change in our communities and society at large…. ![]() The ability to imagine what is not goes hand-in-hand with the ability to dream up what could be, and leads us to yearn for the possible instead of finding complacency in the present. For slaves toiling in the fields, this imagination was life-saving. It was meant as a reminder that song sparks our imagination-imagination that brings us to another place. It was sung, to remind slaves that wherever they heard music, God was present that song, no matter how harsh their circumstances, could bring them to a place of peace and worship. Unlike so many other songs of that period, it had no hidden meaning about escape or freedom. The hymn comes from African-American slave communities in pre-Civil War America. One morning I was slated to lead us in song, and I chose the hymn “Over My Head.” Perhaps you know it: “Over my head, I hear music in the air… There must be a God somewhere.” We began and ended each session with song, and we were careful to put each song into a cultural context that allowed us to connect with its origins and meaning. As part of our meeting, we sang-a lot-which was wonderful. I once met with a group of colleagues seeking to create resources for congregations to embrace multiculturalism in authentic and worshipful ways. Throughout time, those facing hardship and oppression have turned inwards for inspiration for living, even in the harshest of conditions. ![]() Imagination is also necessary to survive when times are rough. ![]() PURE IMAGINATION FULLIt is necessary for a deep and full spiritual life. It’s necessary-for connections with the world around us and with others, to enrich our lives and to stimulate our mind. In his book The Dignity of Difference, Sacks argues for the importance of education, which he thinks is the key to developing creativity: “Creativity is itself one of the most important gifts with which any socioeconomic group can be endowed.”Ĭreative imagination is not just nice. Philosopher and theologian Rabbi Jonathan Sacks identifies creativity as one of the most important virtues to cultivate in our increasingly complex world. They allow people to discuss, to interpret, to imagine for themselves what those words might mean or what that light might look like. Weaving together words or capturing the play of light in the trees both create a common cultural reference point for the people who see and hear them. As humans, we use this power of creativity, including our powers of imagination, to create meaning by interacting with the world in new and different ways.Ĭreativity and imagination create community. To Wieman, the ultimate power of any being is its ability to create-to deepen and transform its relationship with those things around it. In weaving the web of richer meaning, the creative event transforms the individual so that he is more of a person. Out of disruptions and conflicts which would otherwise be destructive, it creates vivifying contrasts of quality…. The creative event weaves a web of meaning between individuals and groups and between the organism and its environment. ![]()
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