Limitless Imagination In A Limited Body
When I think about my imagination, I feel horribly inept! I am awed as I watch a painter create a incredible picture on canvas right before my eyes. Or see a complete project by an architect’s vision of a home, business or larger shopping mall to scale; or even how a person, with a music instrument in hand, can create unbelievable lyrics with unique music notes to a song which becomes a masterpiece. The dress designer, the landscaper or even the small child as he sits in front of a large sheet of paper and can create the picture in his mind, can also stun my senses with their gifts.
It’s entertaining to watch my small grandchildren play ‘house’, ‘school’ or any number of different kinds of play acting scenarios. They just make up their lines as they go, with roles often changing between those collaborating.
IMAGINATION IS JUST FOR KIDS! RIGHT?
As adults, imagination, aside from what some call ‘creatives’, tends to be stifled due to the day to day mandates of our lives. We typically don’t create songs or play imaginary games, or even create pictures if we aren’t trained artists. Imagination is just for kids. Right?
Actually, far from it! Imagination is how many with disabilities function in everyday life. It’s how they survive! Our world has long focused on what the disabled person cannot do! They are often seen as weak or at least ‘less than’, whether the disability is physical, cognitive, emotional or sensory! But their disability does not cancel out their potential for imagination!
THINGS WE CAN NOT CHANGE
There are things which we cannot change. We have a given birth date, to specific parents. These are the facts that cannot be changed. We know the sun will rise and set each day even on a cloudy day when we can’t see the sun!
There are the laws of chemistry, physics or even math which are what they are. For a person like myself who has no foundation in chemistry or physics and wrestles sometimes under the laws of math, accept the laws as they are, learn about them if desired, and know other people use them daily and move on!
GETTING CREATIVE TO GET THROUGH
Sometimes in spite of their disability some become creative to navigate their world. They stop fighting what they cannot change, and instead use their imagination as a tool of resilience, to work around their condition.
There are those who describe themselves as ‘more imaginative’ than their normal counterparts, because they have a deep understanding of what an imperfect, non-normal body is! They have been forced to look outside the box and find ways to implement, improvise and adapt those necessary components in their lives to counter the reality of their lack of ability in any given area!
These imaginative creatives do their best to accept things as they are, but move forward toward what some call ‘creative transformation'. This idea suggests that in this scenario they can imagine a healing within their spirit. Does it mean their disability is gone? I don’t think so. But there is positivity (and possibly their faith, in a Higher Power) in the idea that they were created by design; perhaps even with a purpose.
TURNING LIMITATION TO FRUITFUL MINISTRY
Many, whom the world views as disabled, have found themselves turning their limitations into a fruitful ministry or testimony of faith in what they believe— even in that which they cannot see. It’s not about looking at someone who has a disability and thinking ‘weak’, but rather seeing strong and resilient!
Disability doesn’t limit imagination, it can actually expand it. In a world whose label is often ‘less than’, this may be the very space where God speaks most creatively.
Photo Credit: Artist Imagination