MARK AKPOJOTOR

A psychological diagnosis of imagination of many a man highlights: “imagination unused”, “imagination

under-used”, “and imagination below-can-charge”. And a solemn excursion into the activities of the modern
humans and their exercise of imagination x-rays that many no longer imagine, a few imagine sometimes under
critical condition, and only a minute proportion of the populace realize the importance of the exercise of human
imagination and utilize it productively. Imagination “as ability to create picture in the mind”, is an inbuilt talent
created in man by the creator of creativity itself, which is designed to enable man think, reflect, and ponder
creatively. O what a precious gift from our generous God! But why is the exercise of imagination so important?
IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISED CREATIVE IMAGINATION
An exercised imagination keeps the memory ever active, young and refreshed, which implicates psychological
healthiness. We must realize that a creatively exercised imagination helps one to avoid lonely, depression,
stress, anxiety and worry. In this light John Manson would say, “A man of imagination is never lonely”. An
exercise of Creative imagination improves self-esteem, motivation and achievement.... But one may imagine,
what do I have to do with application of creative imagination when as a Christian and, particularly as a
catholic seminarian-a priest to be, I am confined by my faith to think within a doctrinal space-box? Or,
what does creative imagination has to do with my homily and spirituality? These are pertinent interrogations
but, we are required to realize punctual enough that application of creative imagination in religious cum
spiritual life has proven lucrative in million folds in the lives of many within the faith.
Very noteworthy, a good message is to a great extent, hinged upon prayerful reflection couple with a
resourceful employment of creative imagination to picture the realities surrounding the message. Its application
can help preachers to apply the message accurately to the life-situation of the people. Similarly, a good
homiletic analogy is a product of creative imagination. Besides, exercising God given talent of creative
imagination in spiritual life can help understand better, the reality of the faith and mystery one celebrates.
Correspondingly, the wonderful spiritual writings of Archbishop Fulton Sheen picture the inexpressible
originality, ingenuity and glory of exercised creative imagination. A glance at his works easily stamps the mind
with the impression that the great man writes out a judiciously exercised creative imagination. No wonder his
writing has been attested to by many students as “gluing to the mind with a forceful push to make a change of
resolution to serve God better”. What could be his secrets? One of them I guess must be his wise use of
imagination within the church’s doctrinal scope. Besides, do you know that the scope of your imagination
determines to a great extent, the scope of your opportunity in life? Or, that your power of imagination
determines the boundaries and demarcations of your life?

A cultivated land habours good plants and fruits trees-apple

Vine, orange. Produces, some in hundred folds, thousand
folds, And in million folds. But an uncleared and uncultivated
land grows weeds, thorns and brambles. It produces nothing
but nonsense and zero fold.
The tragedy of all this is that, with all the above enumerated importance and wages of creative imagination, not
too many people are willing to exercise theirs. If uncultivated land could be so useless, will unexercised
imagination be useful, will it not habours weeds and thorns in the brain and memory?
THE DOOM.
Just as the human body needs exercise to keep it fit, and when that is not done the corresponding consequences
enumerates moodiness, inflexibility of joints, and in extreme cases, sickness of various shapes and sizes, so
also the brain and creative imagination. As we all know, lack of exercise can steal one’s liveliness, smartness,
and agility. In the same manner paucity of creative imagination exercise can render one creatively moody,
inflexible and, can steal away imaginative creativity. Do you know that failure to exercise the human gift of
imagination can earn benefits deficit productivity, and myopic mentality? Is capable of birthing absence of
ingenuity, originality and a confined scope of life opportunity?
Similarly, unexercised imagination is vulnerable to the doom of memory loss, forgetfulness and “in-creativity”
of various calibres. We must note vividly that, unexercised imagination is an accommodation to loneliness,
depression, stress, anxiety and worry since, as aforementioned, uncultivated land habours thorns, weeds and
brambles. If a man of imagination is never lonely, a man void of imagination must be a watered-garden of
loneliness”, and if you do not imagine creatively, you would most likely. Having seen this unveiled truth about
the power and importance of creative imagination, what then can we do to be saved from the doom of
unexercised imagination? We must repent, be baptized and follow meticulously the following nuggets.
THE NARROW GATE OUT OF THIS DOOM.
Be assured that it is not too late to start. After-all, we all are still very young. It only takes you to start and will
unconsciously find yourself at its peak. To start, you need to:
 Be in the chapel (or any other good quiet place) on time before general prayer.
 Read a verse of the bible or any short reading that normally keeps you thinking and motivated at ease.
Keep pondering on it. Then, make effort to go beyond the literal or popular scope of its comprehension
but within the church’s doctrinal environment, until it unveils novel understanding. Remember, there is
always up-to-the-minute (modern) conceptual dimension to anything.
 Make effort to situate and picture whatever you read in your imagination. Take a role and play it
positively and religiously, and imagine the possible role of other characters in the same scene.
 Do not forget to shelve p&p (paper and pen) at your corner, you can forget later. Write it as it comes, it
would be very useful to you in the nearest minutes.
Develop a habit of exercising your creative imagination and enlarge the eye-ball of your foresight. Save
yourself off the doom of unexercised creative imagination.