Imagination

I feel that my imagination isn't what it used to be back when I was a kid.

I was watching some Japanese Animated movies and was awed by the philisophical and creative aspects that were cleverly intertwined and explained in subtle tones throughout the movie. I realize that as I have grown older, I have begun to appreciate and see the hard work and thinking processes required to create and sculpt such works of art and creativity. The movies then got me thinking, "What is it about the Japanese, or even the respective artists, that allow them to dwell in such landscapes of thought and creativity to build such things of art?"

I noticed that the Japanese movies that I have seen have a lot to do with spirituality and came to compare with the American movies that lack that kind of spirituality. I may be the only one but I appreciate the emphasis on the spirituality of all things that I have seen in these movies. I should also point out that the movies that I talk about are movies from the Ghibli Studio and to just mention, the Evangelion Movie that was heavily soaked in religion and philosophy. These movies may be heavy for some but as Jesus talks about quite often, I feel that I am becoming more adept at noticing the message under all the metaphors and parables in some things. As people say, "practice makes perfect" and these movies help a lot.

Movies are made for entertainment but they have the curious power to influence and teach. Thinking through the movies, I notice how the creators and writers of the movies emphasize some aspect of society or even the importance of nature and the harmony we must live with it. Then I realize the power and ability of the creator to influence the thinking of the viewers, to point out the good and bad people, and even direct the audience's sense of wrong and right. It's a big responsiblity and power to have such an ability with just 1.5-2 hours of someone's time.

I wonder where my imagination went? Is it because my imagination was surpressed by the practical and physical needs of this culture and society? Was I taught to leave my imagination behind and live in this reality that supresses such a gift? Some say that the imagination is the key to the future survival of this world and that it is the means of paving the road to such a future. But I feel that this generation may lack in that power and tool to harness such a destiny. I, for one feel the lack of imagination that I have in my life. I really do wonder what happened to it.

Pastor Seth says that we, as Christians, should be as creative, if not, more creative than such artists and masters of the art. But where has that all gone? What are we so focused on that such creativity has been surpressed? I honestly forgot the reason as to why he said such a statement, so can anyone remind me?

So where has our creativity and imagination gone? I'm still looking for mine. I hope I haven't lost it completely! Where is yours?

P.S. Even in classical music...Why can't composers today create masterpieces on par with the masters of the past?