Imagination opens hearts

Where I am is where I’d like to be. It is a place where my struggle begins.

Ever since I was a little girl I had vivid imagination. It was my way of escaping reality when I had difficulty coping with a struggle. In painful moments I would imagine visiting places and meeting new people. It was my way of coping with difficulties.

In our family we never knew when father would start yelling and slamming doors. It could happen over someting as bizzar as not being able to find his keys. He was equally loud for losing keys as for being upset for someone opposing his core beliefs. Being the loudest person in the room was his way of imposing dominance.

When I got older, I did not have to imagine travelling to foreign countries. In order to escape struggles I had at the time, I was blessed to have many opportunities to visit many places. However, my heart continued to be restless wherever I went. Until I found a place where my soul found peace - in Christ, I always wanted, or better yet, needed, to be somewhere else.

Imagination and inner healing

Nowadays at least once or twice a year, when under overwhelming stress, a desire to escape somewhere re-emerges. When it happens, as a way of coping with stress, I use imagination to be fed and receive healing. From a place of rest with Jesus I’ve learned to embrace and release pain by using imagination. 

Contemplative art workshops

When I lead contemplative art workshops, I lead others  in finding rest and healing by using imagination. I teach others what I do often in my prayer closet. I use imagination while contemplating Bible verses and I embrace current struggle or pain in order to receive healing. 

Usually I start a workshop with reading Revelation 3:20; “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

After reading the Bible verse, I ask students to imagine their heart and Jesus knocking on their heart. In imagination they can open their heart and let Jesus in the area of their pain (memory of pain, or something unpleasent that happened that day). As they allow Jesus to enter, they are instructed to share their heart’s secrets with Jesus and wait for His reply. 

Reply sometimes comes in a sense of peace, other times they might see Jesus embracing them and feel sensation of being hugged, Jesus might even tell them something that moves their heart, or they might get a mental picture that speaks something to them and they can use it as an inspiration to paint (or do something else creative) with Jesus. Every personal encounter is different and unique. It is a place of rest and beginning of healing while painting with Jesus.

I’ve done these workshops both with children and adults, Christians, atheists or Muslims. Everyone who is willing to explore is blessed, refreshed and encouraged by the experience in some way. 

Would you like to try it?

Do you wish you could be somewhere else today other than a place where you live now? Is it possible that the need to travel is coming from a restless heart? Perhaps surpressed pain is looking for ways to get your attention and be embraced, in order to receive healing. Even if you are content where you are now, perhaps you have some regrets you would like to share with Jesus?

You can find rest and healing in Jesus wherever you are in your personal journey with Jesus. You too can contemplate Revelation 3:20 by using your imagination. When you share your heart with Jesus, be quiet for a while and wait for the response. 

If prompted to be creative in the process, engage creativity. You might be surprised where this journey takes you!