Imagination

Imagination

My friend Ken Davis has this posted on his blog

23 AUGUST 2007
A practiced imagination

"I would rather have in my science class a young person who was raised on fairy tales and Harry Potter than a person who spent elementary school science classes measuring the growth of bean sprouts in styrofoam cups on the classroom window sill. We all know that bean sprouts need sunlight and water; that's common sense. But it requires a practiced imagination to appreciate the spinning loom of the DNA that makes the plants what they are. . . ."
--Chet Raymo, Science Musings
Posted by Kenneth W. Davis

I, of course, have copied it here because I totally agree with it.

(Speaking of Harry Potter, my copy has been returned and is available for loan - I also got my (signed) copy of Solomon's Builders back and it too, is available)

Science is fun and it is fascinating but imagination is most important, even in Science. In fact, the people who have (and use) imagination are extremely important to everything. Where would we be without it?

I think that imagination is the greatest gift our creator has given to us. Animals can appreciate many things and even express intelligence and love but I am unaware of instances where they have expressed imagination.

Because of imagination we have been able to create and accomplish much. In our lodge R.W. Brother Bill Yungclas gives a lecture on the trowel. Part of it mentions the creations of the beaver, the spider and the bee. He talks about the incredible creations of the beavers dam and the spider's web. Then he mentions that man came out of the caves and began to build in the sun. (obviously, you know I am paraphrasing here) He says - "In man there was a divine spark." That divine spark is imagination. Because of the architect's imagination we have been able to create giant cities and beautify our world. We have built highways that connect our cities. We were able to build machines which can carry us around the world quickly and efficiently. We have even been able to take a trip to the moon.

Sometimes that imagination operates in an individual. Leonardo Da Vinci comes to mind. The Museum of Science in Boston has a web site where you can learn more about him or you can just look at the picture to see some of the incredible results of his imagination.

When I read a book I use my imagination to bring it to life in my mind. I fill in the blanks and actually make it more vital and vivid than just the words on the page would allow. I draw pictures in my head and the experience is more wonderful. I always prefer to read a book before I see the movie based on that book. I think perhaps that people who do not read much have poor imaginations.

In our Lodge work the candidate is blindfolded. This enables him to use his imagination as he undergoes the initiatic experience. I think the experience becomes much more meaningful because of his being blindfolded. Otherwise he would be distracted by looking around the room and seeing a bunch of guys (thank me for not saying "old men") sitting around watching him and the initiation takes place mostly in his mind.

Imagination also works in group settings. People working together bounce ideas off one another and can accomplish more as a team than otherwise. In fact, some say that TEAM stands for Together Each Accomplishes More.

Back to Harry Potter for a moment. J. K. Rowings used her imagination to put together a world of wizards, witches, magic and muggles. She has entertained millions of us (and become very rich) by using her imagination. She along with others who have used their imaginations have greatly enriched our lives.

I had a student named Craig once. He used to sit and look out the window. He was using his imagination. Unfortunately, I couldn't let him do that all day so we developed a signal to bring him back. I would use the word "butterfly" and he would get back with what we were doing. Not a terribly creative way do do it but it worked.

Another unfortunate thing about imagination is that we can imagine things about others which are not factual about them. People used to make assumptions about me because I was obese (lots bigger than I am now) - Actually inside I have always been thin. (That was using my imagination.) You can also imagine that they like or dislike you when in actuality you don't really know. Even when they tell you one thing they may mean another. So imagination can be a bad thing. You can see someone on the street and assume that they are a danger to you when they are really not (or vice versa). So, imagination can also get you into trouble.

We would not have our world as we have it today without imagination. It was the imagination of the pioneers that brought them to this continent just as it was the imagination of their predecessors that kept them close to land and away from the "monsters" of the sea. It was the imagination of the founding fathers which enabled them to build our system of government. They took ideas from here and there and put them together in their imaginations and built them into a system that (for the most part) works.

Sometimes imaginings are beneficial sometimes they are not. I think we have to test our ideas in our minds and in reality and try them out.

Some of the things which we need to set our imagining to are:

Global warming and the environment. We can no longer imagine that these are not real problems or that they do not effect us. We dare not ignore them any longer.

Peace and prosperity for all. There are far too many places in the world where there is fighting or the people do not have enough to eat. The world can sustain its population but we will have to cooperate and use our imagination to solve the problems.

Renewable and sustainable energy. Let's face it folks the world is eventually going to run out of fossil fuels. This problem can also be solved if we work together but we have to decide it is in our best interests to do so.

Religious differences. One of the biggest problems with religion is that people seem to think that they have the only way to salvation and that everyone has to believe the same things. Some of these differences just need to be released. In the Masonic Lodge each person has his own conception of Deity. We do not discuss religion in the Lodge. The world needs to be more like that. I don't really think the God cares if we are a Catholic, a Methodist or even a Buddhist. There is enough diversity in the world that we just need to find some way to live and let live.

Let's put our imagination to work on things which will help solve the world's problems. It can be done. If we believe (as did the Mayans) that the world will end in 2012 then we don't need to take any action. If we don't believe that (and I am one who does not) then we really need to use our imaginations to work together to make this world a better place.

Be loved. Hugs, J