Zen teaches profound lessons through koans. Jesus taught his disciples through parables. Children’s stories are passed down from one generation to the next. Epic tales, centuries old, speak of great heroes and quests. As a people, we learn best when we engage our imaginations. The greatest teachers in the world knew that a lecture could stimulate our intellect but a story would inspire our life.

     It was instinct that first sent our ancient ancestors seeking shelter and intellect that looked for the warmest, safest and most comfortable spot, but it was imagination that looked to create a lean-to, igloo or teepee. The intellect can conjure up an idea but it takes the imagination to take that idea and make it sing. In this way a house becomes a home, a job becomes a career, a spouse and children become family, and all of these together become our lives. Imagination takes these individual notes and makes them into a joyous symphony.  It is up to all of us to dream  the life we want into being.