A Moment of Silence, Please?

The sound of a distant train. The crunching of pebbles. The quiet breeze blowing. The empty mind letting silence do the talking.


Quiet.


In our world, it is quite daring to climb over the wall that separates noise and silence. The idea of shutting up and letting silence speak the words we need to hear seems to take a lot of strength to do. We never get used to the busy life, but somehow we find ourselves attracted to it. Either we feel attracted to it or we feel slowing down will only remove us from any consistency, comfort, or necessity we need to survive. Take any man's career, for example. The man toils and labors nonstop, just to spend the income on things he needs to live; and it does not stop. Everybody goes round and round, never stopping to think to let peace and quiet fill the mind.
It is an interesting presence, silence. Sometimes, we need to shut up and let the Lord speak to us. Even when we are not verbally making noise, the world supplies the noise we are forced to partake in. Everyday, we are dragged out of bed whether we want to or not, feeling the pressure of spending the day productively. When we are silent, letting the whispers of outside noise appease our scattered minds, we find peace; we find God.
How many times do you think about the ground you walk on? How often do you consider the simplicity of the   grass and the complexity of our DNA? What about the sun? Or the infinite stars in the sky?
All of these things can remind us of God's mysterious beauty if we let silence run its course.
So, please, do shut up and let silence do the talking. Let God tell you something you would only hear if you remove yourself from the busy schedule demanded of you. There is something beautiful about that silence, so make time for some silence - maybe check out this video.

Enough is Enough

A little bit more... a little bit more... a little bit more. We are never satisfied. We are always searching for more, making our ability to be content one of our biggest weaknesses. Once we feel content, we find ourselves comparing to others who "appear" to have more.When we feel we don't have enough, we want more; we get some, and hope we can receive more. We go on and on, never recovering from this problem with material possessions.
But the baby wasn't born yesterday. The Israelite community struggled with this when the Manna reigned down from the heavens. Exodus 16:15 mentions Moses telling the Israelites to 'gather as much as they need,' and nothing more. Verse 18 says, "the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed." In other words, every had just enough. The people gathered everyday, and everyday grabbing just enough. However, the seventh day rolled around and God specifically commanded the Israelites to hold off on the Manna. Yet, despite God resting on the seventh day, the people still went out looking for Manna. They found none, for Moses had specifically told them no Manna would be in sight (v. 26). Sadly, the Israelites thought of themselves and what they thought they needed.
But let's backtrack. Each day the Israelites collected the Manna, they could not save it for the next day. Despite Moses' command to not save it, some of the Israelites still tried to save it, only to find out the manna would be rotten, full of maggots, and inedible. The Israelites wanted to save their Manna in order to have more enough, and God reminded them that just enough is perfectly enough.
Aren't we just like the Israelites? Aren't we always desiring more? In the New Testament (Luke 3), John proclaims to the crowd he is about to baptize how they can avoid the wrath of God. When the tax collectors asked John, he replied, "Don't collect any more than you are required to (v. 13)."
God provides us more than enough, but so often we are unsatisfied and lose the content spirit we are called to have (read Hebrews 13:5). All you need is God, and his presence is near to you; He promises he will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrew 13:5). However, destruction will come your way if you try to search for something or someone more satisfying.
The Lord is enough. Be satisfied in Him, and always remember that God knows exactly what you need, and He will supply it as water supplies life for a plant (Matthew 6:25-30).

The Reality of Water

When we look at water, most of the time, we don't stop and think about how intricate and interesting the liquid is. A small drop can be shattered into smaller droplets even with the slightest touch, yet an entire body of water slows you down when you crash into it. It looks smooth when sitting in a glass cup, but can drown a small dog when crashing down a ravine. This is water, and we take for granted just how interesting it really is. The same liquid that runs gently down your throat when you are thirsty could also sink a ship in the middle of the sea. Then, in the blink of an eye, the heat makes this form of precipitation disappear in a flash...only to appear another day.
Yet, what is most miraculous is what happened when the Lord made it. Genesis 1:2 says, "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters."
In this simple verse, there is a lot of detail. It sounds like a narration done by Morgan Freeman in a hit Hollywood movie. The earth was empty at this time, but the protection of God himself was over it; the waters were filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit before man walked the earth.
When I am near a body of water, the image never flees from me. I watch the mist rising in the morning, and the waves ripple toward me during the day. At this time, I realize the true power of the water in its collective form. Quiet, pure, and smooth, the water was filled with the Holy Spirit long before ancient wars, conquerers from long ago, and modern cities were constructed. Now that this image is in my mind, nothing else seems to replace this idea that God placed himself upon the surface of the water. It is astounding! Truly amazing!
But, the news gets better. God expressed his love by creating man, and soon enough man was filled with the Holy Spirit. "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit..." Acts 4:8 says. Now, 2 Timothy 1:7 encourages us with these words: "For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline."
Whether past, present, or future, God has blessed us with his Holy Spirit. Remember the Holy Spirit and how it has been God's gift to us since Genesis 1:2 - the beginning of existence. While initially the Holy Spirit "hovered over the waters," it now sets our hearts ablaze as we use our lives to glorify God.
The disciples, as they transformed lives from city to city, they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Just read the Gospels) all the time. It is clear the Holy Spirit rests within us, and while the waters first played host to this form of God, we have been blessed to be used by the Holy Spirit as well.
"Then God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.
Isn't it ironic that it mentions God saying, "Let there be light," after his Holy Spirit resided on the surface of the waters? Now the Holy Spirit resides in men, and we can be a light to the world (Matthew 5:13). Connection? Indeed. First, God places the Holy Spirit on the water, then creates light and light was formed. Then, God places the Holy Spirit in men, and now we can be a light to the world as God placed light on the earth.
So, lets not have an attitude that limits the Holy Spirit to the waters, but let us be a light to the world that goes far beyond the boundaries of the sea. Let us live as if we do have the Holy Spirit leading our every step. Let us be a light that rises out of the darkness and fills the empty spirits and souls of the world.

Coffee is Not the Cure

Ever have those moments where you are so physically tired that you cannot do a thing about it? 6:30am and you know you need energy, but even coffee can't do the trick? It happens, and no matter how hard you try to muster up the strength to keep yourself from falling apart, you still do. What is interesting is the connection made between a coffee veteran and the liquid itself; the content is swallowed, yet no result is seen. The legs still give up when you least expect it, the eyes still double blink in order to stay focused, and the mouth takes longer to stretch when a yawn develops; all of this occurring with coffee in the system.
How do you remain faithful when your body tells you otherwise? How do you fight the temptation to let the flesh rule over your soul?
Well, the life of a Christian certainly takes work, and Satan can quickly find his way to the control panel when the body gets tired. But, this fatigue we speak of is the very reason we must continue living every moment intentionally. We must strive to be faithful, trying our best at whatever God places in front of us.
It is not our coffee guzzling that keeps us awake, although it does bring us that emergency boost we look for each morning. It is our every-moment effort to be faithful in every moment of our lives. Whether serving at work, at home, or anywhere else, it is our service to God that brings us joy, if we are sincere in our serving. And, in all honesty, the difference is there. If you haven't done a lick of gardening in your life, suddenly you find yourself loving it because you have trained yourself to have joy in serving God, with or without coffee.
The idea is to be faithful, even if being faithful is the most difficult commitment. For if you remain faithful, not only will you being loyal feel great, but you will be obeying a command that God has set before us: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10). We must use every moment as an offering to God, recognizing that our faithfulness is the only thing we can give back as gratitude for the salvation he has given to us - and continues to offer.
Remember 1 Peter 4:10 whenever you feel the Devil deceiving you to do things for your benefit. Remember that we are always given the opportunity to glorify God as servants.
Faithfulness is the cure to a tired, fatigued life, and it certainly beats any form of coffee or energy supplement.

An Audience for our Audience

For the theatre people out there, I'm sure you know what I mean when I say, "out front."
For anyone who is not theatre material, out front is theatre lingo for 'the audience.'
"Know your audience," my father would always point out. The more he reminded me, the more evidence the was to back up what he said. Life is all about 'knowing your audience.' Everything you do involves people. If you work in a closed-off cubical in the corner of the building, you still have your boss to submit to, customers to e-mail, co-workers to socialize with. Everything you do involves people. Without them, life would be lonely and pointless. In fact, we are called to have an audience. The Old Testament refers many times to the fellowship offerings and 1 Corinthians 1:10 says, "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Everywhere we go, we see people and interact with them. The power of people is evident because community is crucial. We need each other, someone to relate to, someone to understand us. Loneliness is a major fear because we are wired to breathe amongst each other. We are wired to talk, listen, understand, and cope with each other.
Have you ever worked with someone, or been around someone you just wish was not in your life; then they go and you miss them? Sometimes that happens to me. Then, when the person is no longer in my life (for any reason), I miss them. I wonder why. Why do I miss that person? I think.
Then it dawns on me. I miss them because, in some way or another, they contributed to me being in fellowship with someone. I miss them because they made a difference in my life, whether it be positive or negative, good or bad. This brings on the idea of one making a difference for another, whether intentionally or by accident. To be safe, say you are the annoying person. Somehow, you made a difference in the life of the person you annoy. "Making a difference" seems to always have a positive connotation, doesn't it? But should it? If a man bumped into you, making you spill your recently bought coffee and scorching you, and walked away without apologizing, he would have made a significant difference in the way you thought, felt, and even behaved that day. Sure, it is negative, but it still involves making a difference.
The fact is, we yearn for fellowship with each other because we make a difference in each others' lives. You have a chance to be influenced or be the influencer. Your day has the possibility of making a difference (hopefully good) in someone's life - the same being said about that 'person' making an difference in your day.
We all want that. We are all inspired by that. We look in the mirror and tilt our chin up, saying, "I am the difference-maker." Yet, our soul quietly whispers, "I hope someone changes the course of my life."
Yes, we all have an audience. This audience is the people around us, the people we work with, the students we teach. Your audience is the line of customers you are about to serve. You are the host to those willing to listen to your story. You have an audience.
But, even if you lived in a boarded house that refuses anyone dying to interact with you (or make a 'difference' in your day), you still must interact with those around you. It is a necessity. You want food? Cash deposit? Car wash? I'm sorry, but you will have to let someone know so they can help you. Gru, from Despicable Me, cannot escape a social lifestyle. Sanctus Real sings about the lifestyle we need.
True. We need each other, but I believe we were not just given an audience for the sake of fellowship. Proverbs 29:26 makes it clear that men seek an audience with a ruler, but only the Lord provides the justice. See, we look for people to be our audience so often, and to a degree, they are. We are called to be salt and light, so our audience certainly is the world around us. I do believe our audience of the world is part of the picture, but there is more.
We have an Audience of One.
Maybe that is just it. Our worldly-inhabitance provides us a social network with no extra charge, but this social exchange with the world might be a reminder of the social interaction we are made to have with the Father. We need Him like we need our fellow human friends to sell food at a good price, deposit our paychecks, and give our vehicles a good scrub. Our sincere desire to have an audience is predicated by our desire to be in a relationship with God the Father.
To take it a step further, Jesus tells the Devil, "worship the Lord your God and serve him only." He is our audience, and we are to serve him faithfully. Yet, we should know our worldly audience for our Audience of One. We should come to know who we are serving and serve them for God.
Bluntly speaking, let your light shine among others, but let it shine among others for God's glory and honor. You are to serve men for God. Therefore, you have two audiences, but your main focus is your Audience of One.
Timo, from the Hollywood Hit, Coach Carter, sums it up perfectly: "And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." God provides the wattage, we turn on the light, and we serve others for His glory.
We can show people Christ's love as servants of Christ.
The world is your stage. So, "your on set," as they say.
"Out front, out front!"

Back to Basic

James 4:13-14 says, "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

It is a lovely command, but how many of us live this way?

At one point, we didn't. We played because that was our only task for the day. We would wake up, locate our mental goal-setting list, and on it would be one goal: play.

No strings attached, no extra form to sign. In fact, you don't even need to know your past play periods to achieve the only goal on the mental card. The one issue: you would have to play all day. In your pea-sized mind, summer days did not allow any other activities to intrude your eternal time to play. Your time to shine was the summers of elementary school and even some of secondary school as well. Constructing family room fortresses out of furniture, eating grilled cheese while watching cartoons, Capture the Flag on the outskirts of the house, and rolling Hot Wheels cars down the driveway to see which car "out-drove" the other ones.

Life as a kid was fun and literally full of two responsibilities: to play and be happy.

Now, life is a tangled web of strings, never to be fully untwisted and perfectly positioned until the seconds before you whisper your last breaths. Sometimes, the metaphors of life ("you are a warrior fighting in the battlefield of life," etc.) don't do much of anything in comparison to the truth of reality. As you start making your job your life, along with a million other responsibilities, being "the warrior" does not seem as pleasant as it used to be.

Soon, the idea of a heavenly ham dinner sounds tremendously delicious...almost eternally delicious if I dare cross the line and say so.

Then, it occurs to you. The smallest detail motivates you. Whether it is the struggling student suddenly bursts with joy, "I get it," or solving the puzzle of how to become positive in a negative world. Suddenly, the most minuscule crumb becomes a harvest. You look at the crumb and are so hungry for change, for motivation, that you are more content than ever just to taste 1/3 of the crumb.

Yet, the quantity is not what matters, but how much farther you can go with the piece.

Ever hear of the phrase, "you have to take a step backward in order to take two forward"?
Well, this is the perfect analogy. Life sometimes gets too complicated to fit any passion in. Sometimes, we have to take some time to go back to the start and re-run the race. As the gun goes off prematurely, the blast telling us to go even when we are not ready, we need to turn around and regroup so we can restart the race properly. We need to focus on the simple things in order to accomplish the tough things.

Sometimes, to finish the race strong, we need to start over and over until we know full well how to finish. It is through our weakness we are made strong, and our mistakes when we learn along. But sometimes, it is our weakness and our mistakes that take us all the way back to the start so we can realize what is truly important.

"It's not where you start," said Zig Ziglar, "it's where you finish that counts." Ah, thank you for the wonderful clairification Z. It helps to know someone has an idea.

So, if you have no place to run and the fear of growing out of the family room fortresses and homemade lemonade from mom, just smile and think, "it's where you finish that counts."

Or as Paul says, "I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (Acts 20:24)." Sure, this guy is thinking ahead, but he is going back to the simplicity of living: the fact that it means nothing. Just finishing the race. Sounds a lot less stressful and painful as life really is. But, how much motivation are we going to have if we always look at life the complicated way - the way where we think about what we have to do rather than what we've already done?

Yes, don't give up and keeping working toward the future. Still, we need to stop and reflect every so often and go back to why we are doing what we do - and what makes us do what we do.

As complicated as life is, we have the gift of choosing to simplify by going back and continually learning the simple lessons to help us through the toughest.

Don't ever think going back to the basics is ever not worth it.
It is.
Trust me.
It keeps things basic.

I Wanna Live Again!

John Piper, preacher at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, says that prayer is "the intentional conveying of a message to God." He went on, in his sermon about prayer, to say that messages are always going up to heaven from us. When we talk to friends, go to class, joke with peers; these messages are all heard by God. It is the intentional messages; the ones that start with 'hello God' and 'dear God' that are the prayers.
Recently, I have become dependent on these prayers. As life has become more demanding, my heart has become more humble. Even more so, I have often relied on God hearing my prayers and providing a boost of confidence in my life through these prayers. However, before I relay the wrong message to my readers, I want to clarify that my position regarding prayer is not one that is narcissistic by any means. I do not intend to make God out to be a puppet that pleases me and, with the pull of a few strings, gives me what I need.
What I do see prayer doing is guiding my mind and my heart to be in synch with a God who constantly transforms and molds us into the Christian example we are called to be. It does not only help us to think and act as sons and daughters of Christ, but it helps us never give up.
Prayer happens all throughout the Bible. Everyone prays, even Jesus! Jesus prayed, and taught parables about prayer (Luke 18:1). James 5:13 encourages us to pray through our hardships. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray all the time! Colossians 4:2-6 advises us to prayer for others when they put themselves at risk for God's glory.
If any of you can't imagine a Bible scene, regarding prayer taking place, consider the inspirational scene when George Bailey is crying out, "I wanna live again, I wanna live again. Please God, let me live again," at the end of the 'It's a Wonderful Life.' He is at the end of his rope, crying out to God. He has given up on life, yet discovers he can pray to an omniscient God who cares about his needs.
Whether you want to live again or you just want someone to talk to, there is nothing more powerful than talking to someone who "knows when you sit and when you rise," who "perceives your thoughts from afar," who "discerns your going out and your lying down," and who is "familiar with all your ways" (Psalm 139:2-3). He even knows the words that are about to come out of your mouth (Psalm 139:4)!
If you start the habit of praying to him always, you'll certainly live again as George did at the end of the movie.

Warm Coffee, the Desert, and Colored Pencils

God is a mysterious God. So mysterious that it occasionally will leave us wondering what he expects out of us. Yes, many disciples of our Lord even have a hard time grasping how unpredictable and unnatural our Sovereignty can be. The issue this creates is rather colossal at times, especially since our humanistic society tells us we need to justify every bit of what we do. It has come to a point where we need to justify why we are allowed to drink an occasional Shamrock Shake. Sure, to some (or many), they have every right to gulp a shake, especially one as rare as the Shamrock Shake.

What is most horrifying is when it starts limiting our spiritual possibilities.

The best way to put this is through three metaphors: 1) warm coffee. 2) the desert. 3) colored pencils.

Revelation 3:16. The churches are becoming fake and need to be given a pep talk. Who better than John? So John writes a powerful message regarding the balance beam the people of the church should not be walking.

"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

He is referring to God. In other words, God does not tolerate mediocrity, especially from fellow "believers." The issue is that our world has become so messy that even Christians are getting sucked into the wretchedness. Yes, there are "good" reasons to sin. Yes, it is not really hurting anyone. Yes, as long as you are in control, its ok.

I never liked coffee. But if I had to drink coffee, I would at least like it hot or full of ice cubes. However, I would never want to drink warm coffee. I would "spit it out" just as Christ would spit out lukewarm Christians. Its the perfect analogy.

"But you are a sinner too! You are lukewarm too!" Yes. chain me up. But, the point I am making has as much to do with me as it does anyone else. I am a nasty, filthy person as well. I am warm coffee as well.

Lets move on to the next analogy; hopefully this will clear things up. When one walks through a desert, there is not much water nearby. In fact, water might as well be a figment of your imagination in a desert because you most likely will not find a drop.

Now think about Christians. Aren't they much like the lack of water you will find in a desert?

You see, a desert is not only independent of water, but it also creates illusions of water. Much like a moisty asphalt road in the summer, there is the illusion a puddle of water is a mile away. As you inch closer, you realize the "puddle" is only an optical illusion.

Many non-Christians are wonderful on the outside, being servants and loving others unconditionally. However, as you inch closer, you come to realize they are just like the rest of the dunes. There is no difference. The Christians don't "stand out" like they are capable of doing so. Most Christians are completely swallowed by the world much like a desert swallows up the water.

Now lets consider the colored pencils. What happens when they do not have a sufficient amount of lead? They are dull. They are incapable of creating a sharp image. As fruitless Christians do not proclaim the Gospel well with their actions and words, neither can a dull pencil create a vivid picture. We are dull and useless. The Holy Spirit is not being properly used.

Yes, you can go down the infinite list of justifications to prove that you are not being "lukewarm." You can cruise down the street reminding yourself that "God will forever love us and catch us whenever we fall (the idea of mercy and grace)." And, as a believer in relationships and God, I agree with this statement. Where I find it wrong to say is when we use it as a rationalization for what we can or cannot do. When we start taking God's mercy and love for granted and use it to defend our wrongdoings is when it becomes devastatingly dangerous.

It is heartbreaking, to say the least.

So what can we do to prevent further justification of our sins and bad habits? We can start learning to accept our responsibility as Christians. We can adjust our mindset to think as a truly surrendered Christian should. In fact, we should go beyond that and remind ourselves daily that we are responsible for starting a revolution with the knowledge that God is our shepherd and has provided us the opportunity and protection to lead an army of staunch, sturdy, copious young men and women who spiritually "stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around [their] waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with [their] feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:14-15) Not many people do that, which is why it is so crucial to start doing in everywhere; no matter who you are with, you should be a revolution-starter.

Lets get ready for war and be the hot coffee that refreshes an evil world, that provides water for a quenching desert, and is the sharp pencil that creates a canvas of heavenly possibilities among stale hearts that add to the depression we live in.

Rise up! Turn from sin and start a revolution wherever you go!

Battle!

As I have grown older, I have recognized a truth that has come to my attention more and more. It is not that this truth has not existed until now, but that I have grown to become more dangerous.
What does this mean?
When we progress from adolescence to adulthood, we become more aware of ourselves; thus we also become more independent from others. Age three meant we would cling to our parents for everything; for food, for transportation, for appointments, and much more. At age twenty-two, we have to operate our life independently.
Therefore, we have more control over who we ultimately place in charge of our everyday engagements. We have the keys to our vehicle called life, and we can give them to whoever we so choose. Whether our boss, our family members, ourselves, gods, God, Satan, or anything else. The difference between adolescence and adulthood in this case is our choice. When we are young, we don't have much of a choice as to who will raise us or put us in our place. When we are older, we exponentially have more choices.
Due to us being increasingly independent by the minute, we thus become more dangerous from the perspective of our peers - including the heavenly realms.
This is not to say God nor Satan should or are daunted by our mortality, but to say that we have become an asset to any one of the two sides. If we are consistently living in sin, we are an independent who can choose to make a larger mess of this world (if capable of doing so). On the other hand, if we are living with the joyful realization that we can surrender to Christ and find our true identity, we can make an impact on this world for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Clearly, it's a battle, and your heart is right in the middle of it.
This spiritual battle is between God and Satan, and you are the target; you have a choice.
God or Satan?
You choose.

Rubber Duck (Float 'n' Sink)

As a kid who took many baths, I often wondered why the rubber ducks gathered together in the corner. They would bob in one place, but that place always seemed to be the corner. And to top it all off, they would do it with the water moving up and down repetitively. They would even remain in the corner while the water tried pushing them away. Up and down, up and down, up and down they would go. Then, worse yet, as the toddler I was, I would push the decorated ducks toward the middle of the tub, only to see them float back to the corner of the raging tank. It was actually quite vexing.

But, After a good talk on this night with a dear friend of mine, I made an analogy between the ducks and life that is fitting in the circumstances of being a senior in college.

It simply goes like this:
While we have an entire "bathtub" before us, we choose often the corner of the tub. We float in synch with the other "ducks" around us for fear that if we were to part ways, we would sink in the nefarious waves. We propound that life is better lived in safety; while the rest of the world is out there waiting to see your face in it. That is all they know; the corner of the bathtub is all they know.

And while the corner might be much more safe than the rushing waves in the middle, we only go as far as the chatter we experience with the other ducks. We only talk; we don't experience.

My advice is that you look at the waves and quack, "Bring it on." Don't let the nasty bite of the waves swallow you whole, but accept your place and let them teach you. Go for it. Don't be the duck in the corner, but go out and face the waves. Your best lessons learned are when you take risks, even if you fall flat on your face. Don't miss out. For the joy is in discovering what could not be found if you never went out and tried to find it.

So go, young duck, and explore the waves before you.

The Escapist

Ever wonder why we are given an imagination?

A question that gets placed in the cluttered closet never to be seen again is this one. It is not only forgotten, but it is one of the most underrated questions that people like myself do not find the time to seek out. Of course, there is no conducted study I have done to elicit any truth that people do not explore this idea (the imagination). I have only proceeded to make this assumption with the knowledge that many choose to ignore the deepest questions that make you really stop and think about who you are and why you are the way you are.

Recently (as in the past two weeks), I watched a low-budget film titled "The Escapist." This film was insipid at times, yet relayed a rather ingenious twist at the end of the film. In fact, I would see it again if I had the chance and the time.

However, what really intrigued me about this film was a simple phrase actor Brian Cox said. Unfortunately, I cannot provide proof that it was in the film, or furthermore that Brian Cox said it. However, whether it was actually said or only an audible illusion, it has absolutely no relevance to the fact that this simple quotation (or whatever else it could be) had some sort of impact on my line of thinking.

"Imagination protects you. It keeps you alive."

When life becomes boring and repetitive, our imaginations keep us motivated, makes us try new things, and helps us avoid ordinary thinking. Furthermore, it protects from losing jobs, losing hope, and losing our dignity. If we did not have an imagination, we would not be capable of reviewing the intricacies of life; we would not be able to discuss unearthly ideas. Life would be filled with robotic zombies discussing only what the eyes can see. In fact, since our eyes can also be used as bridges to our supernatural thinking, we would even have trouble focusing one what is in front of us without imagination. Logically, we use our eyes to imagine what we are walking into, from, and around. We imagine what we will see on the other side because of what we have already seen. Imagination is crucial because it keeps us alive. Plain and simple.

But, most importantly, for those who believe in the Heavenly Host, our imaginations allow us to think about our future resting place. We contemplate the "yellow brick road"; the place where our worries, doubts, sins, troubles, and struggles will disappear like the dust in the wind. Our imagination keeps us alive in the moment, but keeps us alive for the future as well.

Don't ever take for granted your ability to imagine. Your imagination keeps you entertained more than any HD plasma screen television can.