An Idea of God…

I saw a picture this morning that has captivated me. It’s a quote from one of the 20th century’s greatest theologians – C.S. Lewis. It says this – “I want God, not my idea of God.” Isn’t that great?!? I’ve read several of Lewis’ books – the fictional pieces that draw my heart and the non-fiction that still seem to quicken my pulse. Any of his books are an invitation to depth. The Narnia Chronicles can mess with your head in unbelievable ways, while phrases from the heady “Mere Christianity” almost float from the pages.
I love this about Lewis. He’s got stuff for everyone, which is a trait of a truly great communicator. Lewis was extremely well educated, but it was his imagination that released that knowledge. It was his creativity that has helped generations to understand the greatness of God. There is a story that tells of a conversation between Lewis and the great JRR Tolkien. The men were colleagues and Lewis was struggling with the idea of belief in God. Tolkien, already a devout Christian, delved deep into dialogue with the questioning Lewis. After hours of conversation and debate, Tolkien finally looked at Lewis and told him that it wasn’t facts that was keeping Lewis from experiencing God. What kept Lewis from connecting all the dots in his very rational mind was, in Tolkien’s estimation, very simple – Lewis lacked imagination.

Some of my fondest memories from childhood include my cousin, Jack Jr. During the summer, we were together quite a bit. We played G.I. Joes till we wore out our tanks and choppers. We took those little guys all over – inside and outside, rocks and water. What I remember most, is that we never had a boring storyline. Each day, the threat was new and our Joes were up to the task. If the figures themselves became boring, it was simple to turn our selves into the characters – two kids carrying toy guns and jumping on the play-set defending the backyard from the Cobra troops who were trying to get Gramma’s cookies.

All of that was the result of imagination – the ability to see what our brains tell us isn’t there. Imagination is a natural gift – we didn’t have to be trained to use it. As we grow, we’re encouraged to shelf imagination and develop more rational steps to understand life. Ironically, growing up and learning “real world” realities is the learned trait. Imagination is replaced with steps and routines. Process and formula become the way to accomplish tasks, and then solutions are scripted for us.

Now, don’t hear me say that process and steps are a bad thing. There are days when the process helps alleviate a LOT of stress. However, there are also days when the events of life demand far more than a list or structure. Sometimes our worries, our struggles, our blocks need a little imagination in order to solve. I have long believed that when I’m faced with some rough decision and that only one of two options are before me (and neither seems right), I need to get imaginative and get outside the box. Those creative options often open doors and solutions that I would have never thought possible.

This brings me back to Lewis – I love that this brilliant man followed the warning of Tolkien. It was imagination that opened Lewis’ eyes to see the beauty and bigness of this breathtakingly glory-filled God. Solutions and new directions were now available that Lewis never saw. He stepped into a “wide-eyed” plane of life. Thankfully, Lewis’ imagination didn’t stop with recognizing God – it propelled him to help us see God’s beauty in the face of a Lion named Aslan, or see God’s depth in Mere, or the subtleties of temptation through Screwtape.

It makes me pause and ask myself if I’m giving my God-imagination enough time each day? I spend a lot of time thinking for, or on behalf of God, but what about letting my mind and heart get swept away in imagination? When was the last time I sailed with Paul through storm-swept seas? When was the last time I sat in a room and imagined the “wind of the spirit falling like tongues of fire?” When was the last time I joined in singing a favorite hymn and let the Spirit lead my imagination into the Throne Room of God?
Maybe that’s my task this weekend? Instead of standing and singing a hymn this sunday, maybe I’ll let the words infect my imagination? Instead of looking at the familiar elements of worship, maybe I’ll let my imagination take me to the throne room? Instead of just driving home and letting ESPN radio drone on and on, maybe, I’ll be on the lookout for the beauty of God in the clouds above, the trees beside, and even in that guy who just cut me off.

Blessings and happy imagining!