Imagination of God

There’s a lovely quote in Beauty: the Invisible Embrace by John O’Donohue that goes like this: “It is puzzling that in the Western world we have concentrated on the divine intellect and the divine will. Yet the breathtaking flow of difference in the world suggests the beauty of the Divine Imagination which we have utterly neglected.” (p. 140)

John O’Donohue was an Irish poet and philosopher who wrote about the spiritual life form a Celtic viewpoint. He emphasized the beauty and mystery of God and creation, rather than rules and regulations.

For anyone who does any kind of creative work – and that is most of us – we know that the created thing is first observed in our imagination. Whether writing a piece of prose or poetry, composing a piece of music, contemplating making a picture or sculpture, devising a new dance, new crocheting project, a meal for the family, a piece of furniture – whatever we are making, we see or hear it in our imagination first.

John O’Donohue pictures the world as existing in God’s imagination before things came into being – not just at the very beginning of all things, but constantly, every minute. I find it a wonderfully comforting thought that I existed in God’s imagination before I was born. Not only that, but all the exciting things I might become are already in God’s mind, even if I do not clearly see them in my own just yet.

Does this seem an odd way to look at God? Consider this: in Genesis 1, the Bible says we are created in God’s image. What is the sole characteristic of God we know at that early point? Only that God is creative. Is it any wonder that we humans who bear the divine image are also bursting with creativity?

Does that statement seem far from the truth for you? Then your life is filled with too much activity. Step back; take time; make friends with your soul – and watch the creativity flow.