Imagine Generosity

Imagination is powerful. Imagination takes us from where we are to where we could be. Imagination drives us forward to a better future.

German-born theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein, knew the power of imagination.

I am enough of the artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. – Albert Einstein

Our knowledge tells us what we have already discovered and found to be true. Imagination expands our thinking to discover what might be. It tells us that what we know so far isn’t all there is to know. Imagination says that things don’t have to stay the way they are. We can imagine a better tomorrow.

Will you dare to imagine?

Perth’s Christian radio station, 98five, is asking people to imagine.

Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control.

Take a moment and imagine if these things permeated our community!

Imagine what impact and changes would happen in the lives of West Australians!

Will you dare to imagine?

Without imagination, our communities, our city, our state, our country and our world might be fooled into believing that this is as good as it gets. Surely we can imagine better.

98five is asking people what they can imagine for Perth but I reckon we can all imagine better for our own communities wherever we are.

What can you imagine?

I can imagine a Perth that is more generous. I don’t just mean being generous in the sense of handing over some dollars for a good cause. People in Perth are already pretty good at that. Whenever there’s an appeal for someone in need or for a cause that requires funding, the people of Perth respond in amazing ways.

There’s more to generosity.

When I look at definitions for ‘generous’ or ‘generosity’ I see phrases like, “willingness and liberality in giving away one’s money, time”, “willing to give money, help, kindness, etc., especially more than is usual or expected” and “kindness, especially in giving things to people” but I also find phrases like, “abundance, plenty” and “freedom from pettiness in character and mind”.

Yes, I think there’s always more room for being generous with our money. There are wonderful organisations such as 98five which can only operate when people are prepared to give, (You can donate right now to their Radiothon) but we need to broaden our idea of generosity.

I like the definition that speaks of “freedom from pettiness in character and mind”.

Imagine if we refused the pettiness that can sometimes entangle us and decided to think the best of others. Imagine if we refused to make our first response one of thinking badly of others but instead we considered others better than ourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. – Philippians 2:3

Imagine if we simply decided to give others the benefit of the doubt.

Imagine if we treated others with the same kindness that we’d like to experience.

Imagine if we were truly generous with our opinions of others and their motives. Sure, there would be times that we might be disappointed but surely generosity is a better starting point than cynicism and suspicion becoming our default position.

Imagine a generosity that chose to forgive rather than keep score.

Let’s decide to be more open handed with others. Let’s imagine a community that lavishes honour, love and concern on others. Let’s be generous. And yes, not everyone may ‘deserve’ that generosity but I can assure you that I am the least deserving of a God who would give everything, including his own son, to restore relationship with me. I am the least deserving, yet I am incredibly thankful.

Imagine.

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