Imagination

Yesterday we went on a family trip to Warwick Castle. One of the towers has been turned into a "meet the princess" experience. It is aimed at younger girls, really, but my great hulking lot decided to join in. The message was simple, the tower is enchanted, princesses are magical and you  might be one too. It was a world of imagination and kindness.


Whilst I have to confess that I was a bit cynical about the whole thing there was an aspect which made me feel really bad about the way we deal with children in our churches. Dreams and imagination are important to children (and arguably should be more important to adults). Yet, somehow, we manage to turn the wonder of God into something little and grey and boring for so many people.

Is it really so impossible for us, in our teaching and lives, to convey the same sort of imaginative wonder in talking about God that we do when we are talking about fairy tales. Perhaps that would involve us in a little more listening that we are used to, in creating a little more space and having fewer boundaries which we try to squash God into.

If the largeness of the dream of being a princess can enthral a small child - how much more should the idea of a God who is not only huge and marvellous but also intensely personal hold attention. I have often commented when using either the word imagination or enthusiasm from the pulpit that they are very un-Church-of-England words. But of course, with the thought that they shouldn't be. Imagine.