Just Imagine
It takes me weeks to paint a room.
No, I’m not a bad painter, I’ve been doing it for years. In
fact once I get started it only takes me a couple of hours.
Here’s what takes me so long: I begin with the fact that the
room needs painting. Then I mentally walk through the steps needed to get the
job done: calling my sister for paint colors; remembering where the drop cloths
and paintbrushes are stored. Then I imagine where I’ll start painting, usually
the ceiling, but then the walls and trim. I imagine dipping the brush into the
paint, and if I will use a roller or not.
In other words, most of the time I spend painting is done
inside my head – visualizing what might become of an ugly room.
When we hear Jesus talk about faith – and the believing that
precedes the seeing – I think this is close to what he meant.
Visualizing shoppers in downtown Detroit is where Mike
Illich begins.
Daydreaming about hundreds of people using Lanier copiers is
where my top salesman friend Chris tees off.
And imagining drinking a beer without a cigarette is where
my friend Michelle started.
While few of us believe, “if it can be imagined, it can be
done” – we are certainly wise to believe that, “if it can be imagined, most
things can be done.”
What do we need to start daydreaming about? What is the Spirit asking us to imagine? Do we realize that visualizing is often more than half the battle?
What do we need to start daydreaming about? What is the Spirit asking us to imagine? Do we realize that visualizing is often more than half the battle?
