Advent is an imaginative season. It’s a time for dreaming and envisioning. These are days for impossibly big hopes and audacious prayers. Dreams, visions, hopes, and prayers require the energy of creativity. They insist that we exercise some imagination.
Imagination is not satisfied with the status quo. Imagination keeps coming up with fresh ways of seeing, thinking, speaking, and doing. Imagination expects possibility and the surprises of grace. Imagination will take the risk.
With that in mind, I propose some robust and liberating interior activities for us while we wait for the Christ Child.
- Dream of the world you long for, in which peace is not only possible but a communal habit. Dream a world where people receive one another with gratitude and acceptance.
- Envision what your life can be without the burdens of greed, anxiety, and all other forms of grasping. Envision yourself as wise and content and free to grow in every way that is good and healthy.
- Hope for everything society needs: honest leaders, functioning systems, compassionate movers and shakers, innovative mentors.
- Pray as if you are voicing God’s own desires for the human race. Pray as if God waits to hear your voice and listen to your heart. Pray as if your faith is already moving mountains.
Share this:
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Imagination helped me raise my kids…and lots of prayers too….to be a good parent you dont need a lot of money just imagination to get the kids thinking in many ways it was tough but hey it was fun …..
This is the best. Thank you , I can’t wait to hear the resonence of the prayer through the universe.
Thank you Vinita,
You seem to have read my mind. I have envisioned a world where everyone has a place and job to do what benefit others, not just ourselves. Everyone pulls their own weight and does not expect a handout but does the right thing by others. If everyone used their God given conscience to consider others at all times. Especially at a time when we feel we should get first consideration. It came natural for me as a wife and mother to give my family the best. The better part. And had been called a martar, a wanna be goody two shoes, etc. But it was within me to do so. Not to say I didn’t do some selfish deads but by the most part I felt God saw what I tried to do. Not all share in this, but I feel good knowing that I gave the best part of me. My time, by writing a letter instead of email, or visiting a lonely person living alone.
The parable of the sower brought this to mind. If we truly believed in community, each person would have something to plant. Not always by food but in planting good thoughts by way of compliments. To much criticism is given too freely. Doing good deads, and making sure all had enough. And not think it is ok to see others in need while we are hoarding. If one cup of rice is all we have it can be divided into one half or one fourth and more would have. Rice goes a long way. A place where pride is not a part of life. But proud of knowning we gave that others might have, too.
We all have a mission, some don’t even know it.
My dreams are a reality. Even if I cannot see it in my life time it will come to pass. All good things come from the Father. James 1: 17.
Why is it so easy to do harm and so hard to do good???