“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” - Albert Einstein
Most evolutionists will tell you that the one attribute that separates us from the beasts of the field is our ability to reason, to think. But consider the humble dog, man's best friend. He knows when you are happy or depressed. He is always ready to give you comfort or share your joy. When he has committed a faux pas, he bears a look of remorse and guilt. My Samoyed, Tony, even trod sorrowfully into his cage to await the slamming of the door for his inevitable timeout.
The thing that distinguishes humans is our imagination. We can hope for the best and also, usually to our detriment, fear the worst. Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” For the most part, he was right. Our fear of failure too often stops us in our tracks. Who wants to bear the reproach of our spouse or the ridicule of friends? So we stumble along a path of mediocrity, familiar with the self-imposed limitations of our comfort zone.
“The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.” - Harriet Beecher Stowe
But unbeknown to us, those who achieved a singular modicum of success or even greatness look down on us, not with pity but with disdain. They paid the dues of hard work in advance for their success. They also faced down their most resolute opponent, themselves. Ms. Stone’s quotation above reeks with condemnation. When she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, it couldn't have been an easy task and was, to put it mildly, controversial. Other successful people have echoed the same sentiments.
“Whether you think you can or you can't, you are right.” - Henry Ford
God gave us fantastic minds and He expects us to use them for our benefit and the betterment of others. The best computer ever built is the five inches between your ears. The best part is that the Lord stated in His word that his hope for us is to live abundantly, enjoying the life that He gave us. We also have his assurance of help in determining our path. Henry Ford must have read James 1: 5-8.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all that he does.”
Dr. Maxwell Maltz, a psychologist, observed that our self image is often at fault. But with God in our corner, what is our image of Him? He gave us the equipment and stands ready to help us use it. One man who studied the lives of our most financially successful icons made this bold statement:
“Anything the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” - Napoleon Hill
So it seems that imagination, in order to produce results, must be coupled with belief. If you believe in yourself, it's a good start. If you believe in the promises of God, you're there. Get to work!
The Cab Driver
July 2011
Read more articles by J. Austin Bennett or search for articles on the same topic or others.
