I CAN ONLY IMAGINE…

Imagine v: to form a mental image of something not actually present to the senses.

I would think that each one of us has used this phrase many, many times.  To me, the question is, what does it really mean?  To “form a mental image of something NOT actually present”, what does that mean?  Something is not present, and you’re trying to form an image of something that your brain is trying to create, out of what, memory, your concept of perception, a metaphor for something that you do know???  It’s weird, something is said, and we say, ( or maybe just think), “I can only imagine”.  Imagine what?  Good thoughts, bad thoughts, I don’t really know thoughts?  Do we try to imagine something that would pick up a tragedy event?  I could probably name a few tragedies in my life, let alone in all of the events of our present times; but I’m still a big believer in the fact that even in the event of a tragedy, there is a positive.  Hard to believe from a guy whose had three memingioma tumors, two sets of radiation, seizures, and long term medications; but I do.    A bunch of knuckleheads in Charlottesville try to portray themselves as Nazi’s, (well, actually Nazi ),  maybe because they missed that day in grade school in history class when they spoke of a genocide of murders; or maybe it  could just be their imagination acting up.  I know that I have a couple of holes in my head, but I don’t quite understand “Unite the Right”  Unite what?  The Right what??  If someone could explain this to me, I’m all ears.

When the Nazi’s were eliminated after WW2, peace became reality because the thought of all of the hate that Germany represented was gone.  Could that still be in our reality today?  Lots of people will say “no”, but I, still the optimist, has to think “yes”.  Why?  That intense amount of hate produces nothing, absolutely nothing but more hate.  There’s no rational thinking when actions are dictated by emotions, and that’s what hate is all about, emotions.  Sometimes our senses need to be controlled, (I laugh as I say that!), but maybe, just maybe, people can see just how hate brought us to Europe until 1945, and then there was peace.  Think about 9/11, and how much peace came about after the towers came down.  Hate brought love, and caring rebuilt NYC.  A lot of emotions can come out in times like these, but support and caring rebuilds; rebuilds anything, because when minds are able to work together, gratitude prevails.  Hate brings sufferings, we all know that, but history tells us that from all of that hate, comes peace.  So there is a lot to be said about sufferings; “but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us”.  (Romans 5:3-4).  This is my version of Imagination, my “image of something not present”.

I think that imagination is good, but we all have to be responsible for what we do for, and to, our imagination. Hate means nothing, hope means everything;  and everybody can hope, that’s an image that can be real, and can be present.  We all have an opinion on Charlottesville, but I ask, let’s rebuild.  Let’s persevere, let’s hope.  If we can put our minds, and thoughts together, we’ll find, hope does not disappointment us.

Dare yourself to hope, and then, “I can only imagine”…