True art requires inspiration, vision, practice, imagination, and patience. Something inspires the idea, which leads to a vision of what the painting or story will become. The artist works at the vision, practicing her craft on good days and bad. She allows her imagination to take hold of the vision and keep her process vibrant. And she understands that the work is finished when it’s time; she cannot force it to conform to her schedule.
Our Christian hope begins with inspiration. Jesus awakens us spiritually and plants within us the desire to live out of love, faith, wisdom, and justice. Gradually the vision of our destiny comes into focus. We begin to see what is truly important; we can almost picture what the “kingdom of God” is and how we are part of it.
But we must practice our hope. Some days the vision fades, and we have to return to the basics: God loves us passionately, and we are invited to participate in God’s life. We practice hope with every prayer, every instance of gratitude, and every phrase of Scripture. We practice by gathering together and retelling the Jesus story through liturgy and song.
Hope needs our imagination because imagination connects what’s in our heads and hearts with what’s going on in physical daily life. My four-year-old makes a statement of utter truth, and my imagination recognizes the prophet in my child. I cry in frustration when the big shade tree dies and has to be hauled away, and my imagination reminds me that it’s always a tragedy when a plant—or a person—does not bear fruit but becomes useless. Or, I sit in the evening with friends at a summer feast, marveling at what a miracle it is to eat and share stories with those I love, and my imagination superimposes on this scene the astounding vision of a world at peace and feasting at God’s table.
Hope requires patience, because we continue to live in that tension-filled space between our vision and its final realization. I know I am growing spiritually, yet I ruin a conversation with an unloving comment. I watch a community outreach program progress, then in a single evening gang warfare claims three lives. I develop the ability to see Jesus in the faces of people all around me, but I want to see Jesus’ own face—right now!
Hope is an art—a lovely combination of gift received and ability developed, of resting in faith while, by the energy of that faith, working hard to bring about the world as it should be.
Paula Huston is transparent in her story about hope. Read it in chapter 7 of By Way of Grace.
Exercise:
Write a quick response to these questions.
What inspires you?
What is your vision of the world as God would have it?
How do you put hope into practice?
How has your imagination helped you?
If you were more patient, how would your life change?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
What inspires me? When I make a connection with another soul, I believe that God is with me.
What is my vision of the world as God would have it? I see thru a glass darkly now so I don’t know what God wants the world to be like. All I know, like St Therese, is that there are tasks now I need to do lovingly.
How do I put hope into practice? John XXIII said, “See everything, Overlook a great deal, Improve a little.” I do try to ‘see’ everything – to look beyond the superficial, the outward differences, to understand why there are differences, and then to overlook them, to look for the common ground. To ‘improve a little’ is to change what I can change (as in the serenity prayer).
How has my imagination helped me? I don’t think my imagination is much help. I am too much of a realist. It may give me consolation at times, but usually true consolation is beyond imagination, beyond feelings.
If I were more patient, how would my life change? I would learn more, and would make more connections with other souls. Like Paula, I am quick to see the possibilities and to be impatient with those who don’t see what I see and want to also start ‘doing’ the way I do. Like Paula, I don’t fit my pace with those I am walking with. I don’t listen, or wait for seeds to grow, or fish to nibble.
Yes, patience is a tough one for most of us, especially when we ourselves are discovering a different way to be and we want others to catch that vision.
Don’t give up on your imagination. Imagination is not the opposite of realism; it is a spiritual faculty and it enables us to envision what has not yet come about. Imagination cannot be separated from faith. Every time you act in faith, your imagination is at work–that’s how God designed us! All peace–Vinita
Oh, no, I didn’t mean that imagination is the opposite of realism. Just that I can imagine what could be, but that what could be always includes the realism of what could go wrong also so that it is not very supportive of hope, for me.
My hope is based on past experience, on the decision to believe that God is love and does understand how roaches and mosquitoes contribute to a life of love. I hope there is an answer, but I can’t imagine it!
Now vision does contribute to hope and I suppose that imagination can be part of vision, but while imagination helps me to describe what I envision, the vision itself is much more than a description and does not include realism. When I envision a world where all people can relate to one another and love one another, it does not take into account different personalities, for instance. When I start working on making the vision a reality, I need to see how different personalities can work together. I still hope the vision is possible, but I have to deal with the reality of personality and I can’t imagine how the vision is going to really work. Using a writer’s example, sometimes the characters in a story (whom the writer has imagined) dictate a different ending than the writer had envisioned at the beginning, but the writer feels the story has fulfilled his vision.
My imagination goes wild when how I can see the world with everyone getting along. Being able to get my feelings out when I journal,helps me see the good in all people,Yes sometimes the good turns sour but mostly people are very kind and want the simple friendship of a simple conversation..
Yes, when we merely talk with another person as though he or she matters, we are bringing to life the vision Jesus had for all of us. All peace–Vinita
My inspiration comes from a smile, a hug, or a positive remark and sharing faith action with anyone that is willing.
My vision of the world is to have less judgement in order to open our hearts to other that are different from us; as God accepts us.
In order to keep the hope I believed God would help me through the pain until the day I wouldn’t have pain to deplete my energy. It was difficult to sit, stand, etc. and do this retreat for a long time. Now the day has come when I have found a day without pain.
Using my imagination takes me to a possibility attitude. God’s word inspires me through a Homily, teaching, preparing lessons for young children. Basically sharing God’s Word with others because it reminds me of God’s truth and then I
really try to live accordingly.
Being patient with others is not a virtue I have. I make expectations and then am disappointed. My life would change for the better. Like Betsy said, to change what I can change , from the Serenity Prayer that has come to life for me through difficult experiences. I would definitley be happier.
Thanks for posting–I think a lot of people share the struggles and graces you have described.
Hope had a simple secular meaning to me for many years until I experience the Hope in God in recent years. It was in the seemingly darkest moments of my life, I started to ‘hope in God’ (Hope against all hopes) with my deep trust that everything will ‘somehow’ be ok.
Rooted in this type of expreience, I can be hopeful in my small world and the rest of human race.
In this type of experience, I witnessed God’s generosity and intimate responses. Therefore, when things seem to fall apart on surface, I go straight to God and ask what my next steps should be.
Frankly, unless one lives and shares this Hope, the discussion of Hope has little meaning to me.
I’m with you, Helen. Hope must involve the spiritual reality of things. Jesus revealed this wonderful hope, and as our friendship with him deepens, we do experience more hope in day-to-day life. All peace–Vinita
I love that statement about resting in faith and yet working hard to bring about the world as it should be! Guess that is where I am at at this time. I know that the world has so much further to go in order for the world to be as God wants us to be. I too make that happen when I am not as patient or as forgiving as I should be. Why is it so hard for us to be that way? I know theologically why but no matter how good my intentions are at the start of the day-I have blown it at least once or more by nightfall. I love the beauty that God created in both nature and man. I see a world where the 2 work together instead of man trying to control nature. Controlling nature won’t happen and we are so slow in realizing this. God created each thing for a reason (although why he created roaches, mosquitoes, etc is beyond me) and it is about time we try real hard to work with God in making peace and feasting together a reality.
Nature inspires me more than anything! A sunset, a cloudless sky, winds bending the trees, etc. God’s power lies in all of this and more. I pray so hard some days and then other days I find it difficult to do that. Maybe someone out there can explain that one.
In regards to imagination-I have to believe and imagine that everyone I love will find God in His fullness and come to love Him completely. I want to believe that everyone will be together with Him in heaven-that is my dream and my goal.
If not for imagining this I would then be without hope. This is more important to me than anything else that I can think of.
If I were more patient I would be more pleasant to be around. I would not be after others to complete tasks the way I seem to be. I would be happier-and so would they. Then it would be a start for that peace at least for us.
Again thanks for sharing and for letting us share. God’s peace always!!
Thanks for your post. I believe that participants find community in sharing what is wonderful and what is difficult about this life of faith. Peace–Vinita
In spiritual direction, you might be able to see why your prayer is easy one day and difficult the next.
In general, though, prayer is a gift, like faith and everything else. It is hard for us to discern by ourselves whether we are rejecting the gift or it just isn’t being given because we don’t need it. However, we can accept that it is so. If, like me, you don’t have the opportunity for a compatible spiritual director (or wise friend), then you need the virtue of hope that God always provides. Difficult prayer is ok; God is still with you even if you don’t feel it the way you do on the days when prayer is easy. Betsy
I love reading the comments from everyone. They heighten my imagination. I am aware of things I haven’t been aware of before. I see myself in many of the comments. Mainly I come a little closer to God. We all yearn for peace–the love of God.
Thanks for your comments, Marge. All peace–Vinita
Connecting with others’ comments is a way of seeing the relationship among all people. I imagine that connection being magnified by millions and trillions as God connects with all people – just a sample of what heaven might be like. So, you see, Marge, I can relate to how reading comments brings you closer to God and that brings me closer to God, too!
What struck me… hope being art ..a lovely combination of gift and ability..while resting in faith…and doing your part to bring peace to a corner of His wonderous creation. I heard a quotation once that “hope dies last”…my heart knows its the hope against all hopes, as previously posted. Each post touches my heart, Vinita. Thank you for this continuing forum.
Thank you for taking part in our online journey. Peace–Vinita