The Gift Of Imagination

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

“Flight attendants, prepare the cabin for arrival.”

When the announcement sounded through the loudspeaker, I paused to place a bookmark and slide my book closed. Reaching over to the window, I cranked the small shade open, blinking at the sudden brightness of the sun.

As my eyes adjusted, I caught my breath at the sight outside: puffy white clouds piled high like whipped cream, their pale shade a startling contrast to the cerulean sky. We were at the perfect altitude to sail through them.

For just a moment, I couldn’t help but be gripped by wonder, and I began to smile over the sheer joy of floating effortlessly through clouds. As a child, I had stared at them in the skies above from my place on the ground, wondering what they were like; our family trips usually involved a minivan and an open road, not an airplane.

But because of the gift of imagination, I’d dreamed about how they might look up close. I’d looked for shapes and animals in them; I’d envisioned jumping from one to the other or lounging on one the way I’d seen characters do in cartoons. I thought about eating them up; they looked like the very best of marshmallows.

Now, the wonder of floating past them felt pure and right, a reminder that our imagination is a reason to be grateful—even as adults.

The gift of imagination inspires us to create story lines in our heads, gives us dreams of visiting far-flung places, and prods us to anticipate people and places that bring us joy. It spurs inventors and artists to new innovations; it sparks the ideas that change the future of a life, a family, or a community. And when we pause to enjoy our imagination, it reminds us of our inventive God. He made the heavens and the earth—so many beautiful, fantastic creations!—yet he still cares for us. He imbued each of us with the ability to think and create and imagine.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Spend some time using your imagination.