Welcome to a month focused on the worship theme of imagination! Imagination can be an act of resistance and an act of childlike play. We can imagine a world without hunger or violence, a culture that values all people and provides support to those in need. We can also use our imagination to see pictures in clouds or play with children. Whether we are thinking of a better world or a world of make-believe, imagination can be the key to transformation.

I have used music as inspiration for a few services this month: “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and “Imagine” by The Beatles. The lyrics and sentiment in these pieces speak to the power and playfulness of imagination. Here are the choruses from each for your enjoyment and as a spring-board of action and thought.

If you want to view paradise,
simply look around and view it!
Anything you want to, do it.
Want to change the world?
There’s nothing to it!

You may say I’m a dreamer,
but I’m not the only one.
I hope someday you’ll join us
and the world will live as one.

May’s spiritual practice is to exercise imagination! There are many ways to engage with imagination, from playing games to reading stories. Pick one (or more) activities which feed your imagination and see what happens. Here is an article with some additional ideas about how to engage imagination as a spiritual practice:  thegoodtrade.com/features/imagination-spiritual-practice.

What have you experienced or learned through your imagination? I’d be honored to hear and imagine with you. I can be contacted via phone (412-327-3731), e-mail ([email protected]) or in person at TPUUF (Thursdays, Sundays I preach & other times by appointment).

Imagining a better world,
Rev. Andrew L. Weber