Imagination

October 18, 2025

As we live out the craziness of 2025, can we imagine a different world? A better world?

Can we imagine different ways to be in relationship with the Divine, each other, all there is?

Spiritual and world leaders are speaking of the importance of using our imaginations while we live a world that seems to be falling apart. Imagining what to do while we’re in this chaotic time, as well as imagining a better future.

A different future than the dystopian one presented to us by wealthy, corrupt world leaders.

Sarah Bessey says that imagination can be sacred work, [1]. She encourages us to imagine a just, communally good world, [2]. Bessey also says that our imaginations can assist us in healing, and living joyfully in stressful times, and that imagining can enable change, evolution, liberation, and peace, [3].

Parker Palmer, Carrie Newcomer, and Susan Frederick-Gray invite people to use their imaginations in finding actions and possibilities that can counteract the negative forces in the world, [4]. They suggest that our imaginations can help us to fully accept that no action is too small, [5].

I would add that the world will benefit even more if many people use their imaginations to bring about a multiplicity of compassion and justice-based present-day actions and possibilities for the future.

Using our imaginations as sacred work isn’t something new. The 16th century Saint Ignatius of Loyola developed a series of Spiritual Exercises that involve praying with Scripture during which we imagine ourselves being in Biblical stories.

Ignatius’ intent is for us to pray with and in the stories so that they can help us find meaning for our own lives.

Today's video invites you into a practice of imagining yourself in the Gospel story of Bartimaeus, the man who was a “blind beggar,” [6].

This practice is one way of using your imagination.

It is my hope that it may open you up to using your imagination in other ways.

Because I believe that all of our imaginations will be required as we repair our world, adapt to new realities, and create possibilities for the future, [7].

1. This is a Walter Brueggemann quote from Sarah Bessey’s Field Notes, Imagining a world that is steadily and communally good, June 9/25. https://sarahbessey.substack.com/p/brueggemann?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=4420&post_id=165347853&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=2cb88f&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

2. Sarah Bessey’s Field Notes, Imagining a world that is steadily and communally good, June 9/25.

3. Ibid.

4. The Growing Edge Podcast #60 A Conversation with Unitarian Universalist pastor and Activist Susan Frederick-Gray, Jun 5, 2025

   https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-growing-edge/id1420185401?i=1000711583737&r=1977

5. Ibid.

6. The video practice is based on Teresa Blythe, 50 Ways to Pray: Practice from Many Traditions and Times, Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN, 2006, 101-102.

7. Brian McLaren, Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart, St. Martin’s Essentials, New York, NY, 2024, 184.

   
   
   
   

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Maureen Fowler, a beloved spiritual mentor.