Imagination... (By Senior Blogger: Sharron M.)

     "There's five senses that we enter the human body, five senses. The soul has five outlets too, which is a conscience, and so forth, and imagination."

   61-0308 - Expectations
   Rev. William Marrion Branham

    Imagination is a wonderful tool, if used correctly.  The problem is that not many people use this in a godly way.  The Bible states several instances were imagination is evil or vain.

     As an author, I have a very healthy imagination.  I rarely suffer from boredom and if I do, it is always short lived.  The imagination is unique in that you can take it anywhere and use it at any time, without others knowing it!  Some people call it daydreaming, and that might be true because your mind is definitely not on the current situation.

     I employ my imagination to work out interesting plots and ideas for a story usually.  I love to write!  I exercise my imagination daily and enjoy every moment of it... except when it leads to places I'd rather not experience or explore.  Walking outside at night, or waiting for an important phone call always seems to bring out the worst in our imagination.

    Today, I was putting groceries away and doing some housework.  I was envisioning a thematic part in my random story of the day.  As I was taking out the trash, I was imagining a surprise entrance by a very unexpected and dangerous stranger.  My mind was rushing with detail as I strolled through the garage on my way to the garbage bins.  That's when it happened.  Was it my imagination or did the knob on the "locked" garage door actually turn?  My hand was still reaching for the knob and as I was pondering this, the door swung open!

    A terrified gasp escaped me and then my little brother walked through the door with raised brows.  Smiling sheepishly, I quickly skirted around him on my errand, my imagination successfully contained.  Sigh.  There is nothing like a strong dose of reality to quell and over active imagination.

    The thing is, that even though an imagination is useful to an author or for problem solving, we sometimes misuse it.  Imagination should be used to enhance the situation in a godly way.  Compositions of music, paintings, art work, stories, etc. are all products of the imagination.  Remember to keep God first when using your imagination, and you can't go wrong!  :)  Anything that gives God the glory and lines up with His Word, is beautiful and infinitely worth treasuring.