Imagination and Meaning

"Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning."

Four words collide into each other and are used in our culture as if they imply the same thing are facts, reason, truth, and meaning. A professor in my graduate program reminded me that when a word is used for too much it means nothing. Words are meant to describe different things and not redundantly take on the job of another word.

The quote above by C.S. Lewis reminds us that if we want to communicate meaning to people we have to do it with imagination and not simply rely on facts, reason, and truth statements. Until people can see the meaning they often don't get the meaning.

The number one objection to the truth of the Christian faith is that people don't "get it" or "see it." We present it as a proposition, a choice, or a rational argument. How about appealing to their imagination and help them see the meaning?

The "Lightbox Method" is a simple intuitive approach to help writers connect with the meaning in their images. You don't have to put meaning into your images but discover the meaning that God has already placed in everything around us.

You can download a free copy of the "Lightbox Method" at www.lightboxmethod.com