Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us. — Ephesians 3:20
John Lennon’s beautiful song by this title dreams of a world where we will all live together “as one.” Important to him was imagining “no religion” because, rightly, he saw how divisive religion can be. That’s because religion can be abused by people and used by them to justify violence.
But our faith can also help us imagine God’s kingdom as proclaimed by Jesus and confirmed by the Resurrection. It’s a kingdom where people are empowered to live together as one because they love each other as themselves and do justice for one another as if they were doing justice for themselves.
That got me thinking. What would be other things our faith encourages us to dream of?
What if:
***The world is bigger, wider, deeper, and more mysterious than we can imagine. Things that don’t make sense are simply part of a deeper wisdom that we can’t begin to understand, and never will. As God said to Job, “Would you question my justice, deem me guilty so you can be innocent?” (Job 40:8)
***Pain and suffering are woven into the fabric of a world that continues evolving and changing throughout millions of years. In this evolution, though, no tear is ever shed or pain experienced that will not be felt by the Creator. That’s the message of the cross/open tomb drama.
***God’s wisdom and power are moving through our bodies as we are born, grow, sustain, decline, and die–all part of a divine plan deeper than we can even begin to understand.
***Those who’ve gone on before us haven’t gone very far. The “communion of saints” transcends time and space.
***We’re never alone no matter how lonely we may feel. “I am with you always” is a promise worth trusting.
What do you imagine?
Maybe imagining drives our faith.