A Practice of Imagination

Imagination

Call to Practice

Son of God who sat and told stories, Creator God who filled the stones with tales of mystery, Spirit of God who inhabits our stories, be they tales of joy or sorrow, grant us the courage to encounter you.

The Setting

As the Creator called forth creation from a divine imagination—seeing light where there was not light and life where there was not life—we co-create our world. Our choice is not whether we co-create or not, but whether we co-create our of an outpouring of love or our of a sense of scarcity: I must gain all I can, at whatever cost, to protect my share.

You do not choose whether or not to have a story to tell. You choose what story you are willing to embrace. 

Opening Prayer

Son of God who sat and told stories, Creator God who filled the stones with tales of mystery, Spirit of God who inhabits our stories, be they tales of joy or sorrow, grant us the courage to encounter you.

Amen.

Lighting the Candle

I light this candle to remind me that God was born into a body, walked on feet, told stories, and smiled at the taste of honey. May I honor my journey and the journeys of others as I follow the example of Christ who journeyed with his disciples.

Confession

I confess that I have limited my imagination. I confess that I have not believed that I could participate in the divine story. I ask for the patience to both tell my story and to listen to the stories of others and the courage to enter into the story.

First Reading

  • Day 1: Genesis 1:1–5

  • Day 2: John 12:1–8

  • Day 3: Ezekiel 37:1–14

  • Day 4: Mark 4:35–41

The Inquiry

Journal through these questions. A simple sentence or word is sufficient.

  • In what ways did you experience or observe God today?

  • In what ways did you feel distant from God today?

  • How would you like to grow in your relationship with God today?

After you complete your journaling, write or speak the following blessing:

“(Your name), in the name of Jesus Christ know you are beloved of God.”

The Act of Response

Imagination

This module will use a practice called scriptural imagination. There a many ways to engage scripture with your imagination. This module will outline four.

Day 1: Scriptural Imagination through Drawing—find a place that you are comfortable drawing and gather some materials to draw with. Anything is fine. Read through Genesis 1:1–5 again. Close your eyes. Allow the story to begin to materialize in your imagination. Now make a mark in the center of your paper that holds part of this story. This is your starting point. This is the anchor for your intention to practice. Allow your imagination to work for a little while longer. Add something else to your drawing. As you work, so not evaluate your drawing in terms of art: this is a spiritual imagination practice. Give your self grace to continue adding elements to your drawing until you feel you have finished the scene.  

Day 2: Scriptural Imagination through Writing—find a place where you can write for several minutes without (or with limited) interruption. Read through John 12:1–8 again. Allow the story to rise within you. Write the story in your words, noticing the details. What are the people wearing? What does the oil smell like? Try not to direct the story. Instead, observe the story in your imagination and record it. Here is an example using John 13. 

Day 3: Scriptural Imagination through Poetry—Read through Ezekiel 37:1–14. Pick five words that represent this story. Write them down in a column on the left-hand side of a page. Then allow your imagination to fill in phrases to form a constrained poem.

Here is an example from Matthew 17:1–8

High on a hilltop, away from the work, the muddle, the worry
Dazzling, of course it was dazzling, how could it not be?
Good was found there, but is it only there? Could it be here?
Dwellings might have been nice for a while, but what of the work, the muddle, the worry?
Alone. No. We can not stay here alone. We must return. Even from this.

Day 4: Scriptural Imagination through Parables—parables present you with an expected narrative, challenge you with an unexpected insight, and find a third way forward. An example of a parable is found at the bottom of this Wisdom for the Way Article. Read Mark 4:35–41 again. Think about what the story says. Think about what is unexpected in this story. Write a story that holds this expected-unexpected dialectic. Do not exceed 350 words. Try not to describe the way forward: just tell the story. If you feel comfortable, share the story with someone and let them tell you what they heard in the story. Parables can hold many wisdoms. 

Second Reading

Day 1: The Rebirthing of God, Chapter 3

Day 2: The Rebirthing of God, Chapter 3

Day 3: The Rebirthing of God, Chapter 3

Day 4: Simple Harmony, Chapter 7

Closing Prayer

As one who holds the spark of a most imaginative Creator, let me find joy in the sacred imagination that I have been given. As I move through the world of honey bees, lobsters, and nebulae, let me find wonder and joy. 

In the name of the Word through whom all was created,

Amen

Blessing

May the blessing of the incarnation be embodied in you, and may you find strength in knowing that God created you in love.

Other Resources

Andrea LingleComment