Honourably to Imagine Your Self

John O'Donohue is one of my new favorite writers. Sadly, he is no longer with us, but his beautiful, thought-provoking work lives on. Here is a piece from his book Beauty I find very meaningful, particularly in my relationship with quilting.

But beauty interrupts restrictions in every place and thing. - Stephen David Ross

This is one of the sacred duties of imagination: honourably to imagine your self. The shortest distance in the world is the one between you and yourself. The space in question is tiny. Yet what goes on in this little space determines nearly everything about the kind of person you are and about the kind of life you are living. Normally, the priority in our culture is to function and do what is expected of us. So many people feel deep dissatisfaction and an acute longing for a more real life, a life that allows their souls to come to expression and to awaken; a life where they could discover a different resonance, one which echoes their heartfelt dreams and longing. For their short while on earth, most people long to have the fullest life they can. No-one wants to remain a prisoner in an unlived life. This was the intention of Jesus: 'I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.' Of the many callings in the world, the invitation to the adventure of an awakened and full life is the most exhilarating. This is the dream of every heart. Yet most of us are lost or caught in forms of life that exile us from the life we dream of. Most people long to step onto the path of creative change that would awaken their lives to beauty and passion, deepen their contentment and allow their lives to make a difference.