Last night I received word that two dolphins had been spotted in a Fleming County, Kentucky farm pond. Before skepticism causes you to become incredulous, let me explain. The report originated with my, soon to be, three year old grandson, Luke.
Luke went fishing yesterday with his dad, who is a local pastor, and one of the church members. (“fish” stories are non-discriminatory, they effect even the faithful!). Upon arriving home, Little Luke, proudly announced to his grandmother that he had caught two dolphins, two fish, and had parked his “ship” up in front of the barn! He even reached into his pocket and pulled out the imaginary keys to show her that he had.
Imaginary or imagination, those are the key words. My Boy had, in actuality, caught two small fish that day. The embellishment, however, finds its origin in his vivid imagination. And what a good thing it is that a boy can imagine. Excuse the colloquialism, but imagine what it would be like without imagination.
This might sound a little far-fetched to some, but maybe, just maybe, a child’s imagination is a little like “training wheels” for faith. Both “see” what can’t be seen. Both believe what the senses say don’t exist.
One day his imagination will be overtaken by reality. He will be confronted with life the same as everyone else. There’s coming a day, also, at the time of God’s choosing, that he will be confronted, not only with the responsibilities of life, but with his responsibility before the Creator.
At that time he will be asked to believe in Someone he has never, nor will ever, see in this lifetime. He will be asked to ignore his intellect and believe that that Someone died but then came back to life. He will be asked to believe that there is a place that exists that nobody in this world has ever seen. He will be asked to to believe all of this by faith in the Word of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe, just maybe, that faith gets its start with a little boy’s imagination. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for , the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
