Or is it using you?
You know when people worry, dread what might happen today, say "Oh no, what if..."
That is using imagination in a destructive way.
We are called to give God our imaginations.
I just got done reading a post on ABC's Once Upon A Time. This is a show my entire watches. It is fairy tales set in modern day mixed all together. The post was pretty generic (found at Christianity Today) but in favor of the show. The comments on the post aren't so favorable.
There are a few comments from people who think God would never use things like fairy tales to show truth.
Those kind of thoughts are so sad to me. I've always loved fairy tales. The only dream I remember from childhood was me in a tower being rescued. I am not advocating wimpy females (please....we do not need wimpy females or males for that matter). Actually, that dream was probably about me fantasizing about having long luxurious golden hair. I've always wanted princess hair -- instead I got limp fine hair. It is longish but it will never be thick but I've come to the age where I am just thankful I have hair....
A few years ago when I was having a rough time (I think it was a very sick child) God ministered to me through fiction. He engaged my heart through story, showing me kindness, love, giving me hope. I remember specifically gaining much hope through Kate DiCamillo's The Magician's Elephant. That continues to be one of my all time favorite books by the way.
Where would the Christian world, the world at large even, without the imagination?
We wouldn't have The Chronicles of Narnia.
We wouldn't have Auguste Renoir.
We wouldn't have Leonardo da Vinci's masterpieces.
Or Michaelangelo's paintings and sculptures.
Here's what Jesus had to say in Matthew 13: 10-15 (from The Message):
"The disciples came up and asked, 'Why do you tell stories?'
"He replied, 'You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insights; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it.'"
The imagination was meant to be miraculous in all of us. Oh, let it!
And here's a short quiz for those who are interested. Look at the picture below. What artist painted this and what movie was it used in as a portrait of a princess?