Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge”.  I have pondered that statement many times recently.  Just think about how much time, energy and money we spend each year trying to increase our knowledge.  But, how many classes have you ever taken to increase your imagination?  Very few, I would have to admit.  But as I thought about how I might develop my imagination, I witnessed an awesome example; and his name is Derek.

        Derek had to go outside to play while his mother cleaned the church.  I am pretty sure I was supposed to be “watching” him, so as you can see, I was doing a great job keeping my eye on him.  Derek had a dilemma because he had no expensive toys to keep him entertained.  So what did he do?  He decided to enjoy the things he already had.  First, he found a broken stick, added some imagination and magically transformed it into a golden sword.  I was amazed as I watched the powers of his imagination.  Not only could he transform a stick into a sword but he was able to conjure up pirates, assorted bad guys and what looked to be a giant lizard.

        He fought with all the zeal of Zorro as he stood his ground.  But sadly he had to walk the plank (I believe that is how he first “fell” into the mud puddle).  But don’t worry about Derek, because with his imagination he quickly exchanged his little mud hole for a beautiful Caribbean beach.  In the photo you can see Derek enjoying his day at the beach as he begins to construct a magnificent sand castle.  You see, happiness is not found in expensive toys, cool gadgets or the accumulation of more stuff; happiness is found when we decide to enjoy what we already have.

        Yes, the world is truly overflowing with blessings just waiting to be discovered.  We may have to use our imagination to discover them, but if we would but open our eyes, we would discover a thousand joys scattered all around our spoiled and pampered little feet.  Our task today is simple enjoying the wonderful things and people that make up our world.  Look around, what do you see?  A stick or a magic wand; a daughter or a princess; a stranger or a friend you have not met yet?  Happiness is a choice; choose to enjoy your blessings.

Something to think about:

• Nothing is ordinary if you know how to use it.

• The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s own or real life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life—the life our Lord is sending one day by day. What one calls one’s real life is a phantom of one’s own imagination.

• Only those who care to lose sight of the shore can hope to discover new oceans.

• Wisdom is the ability to discover alternatives.

• As long as a man imagines that he cannot do a certain thing, it is impossible for him to do it.

• The four cornerstones of character on which the structure of this nation was built are: Initiative, Imagination, Individuality and Independence.

• Reality is not only more fantastic than we think, but also much more fantastic than we imagine.

• Never look at what you have lost; look at what you have left.

• A person who is to be happy must actively enjoy his blessings.

Thankful for the blessings I have discovered today
Rickey Moore