Creative Imagination
May 1, 1949 Outline
Tacoma, Washington
Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, seek and knock are very important words, but why do we use them with "Imagination?" Imagination is soul "seeing," which is the faculty of Visualization, of making mental pictures or images in the mind's eye. To create is to be creative, to build, to give form to what is imagined.

The main idea is the proper use of Imagination when asking, seeking and knocking. How are we visualizing the goal? What are we picturing? How are we approaching our asking, seeking and knocking?

We can use these three verbs, in three ways. First, instinctive intelligence regards "ask, seek and knock" as the "gimmes." The creature says, "I will have it. I will ask it of others. I will take it from others." They are seeking God as nature so often ruthlessly appropriates its needs from the environment.

Intellectual reasoning "asks, seeks and knocks" while forever remaining buried in books, comparing philosophies, perhaps wanting "proof." Intuitive consciousness asks God, seeks first the Kingdom, and knocks to penetrate the veil. Such a person has that "upward look," because they are always looking above the worldly appearance, based on a "knowing" assurance and confidence in God and His right answers.

What we receive depends upon where we seek, whom and what we ask, where we are knocking and what we are doing when that door opens! If "finding" is merely the result of simple "asking, seeking and knocking," then everyone would have every desire fulfilled now.

Forgiveness
November 13, 1949
Buffalo, New York
John 8:3-11

The scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?" This they said, testing him, that they might have something of which to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger, as though he did not hear. So when they continued asking him, he raised himself up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised himself up, and saw no one but the woman, he said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you: go and sin no more." John 8:3-11

A surprise attack in psychoanalysis gets at things truthfully. For instance, Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well about her private affairs, and she proclaimed him the Messiah. Jesus was an all-around teacher, who used all methods.

The scribes and Pharisees wanted him to condemn the Magdalen, but he stooped and wrote in the sand instead. What did he write? Events, secrets from the private life of each, things they did not want uncovered.

Jesus wrote "Cheat," and one saw the widows and children he had defrauded of their inheritances. He wrote "Murderer," and another saw the friend he had slain for his money. When he wrote, "Adulterer," another man saw the women he had seduced. Each saw his own crimes and slunk silently away until none were left to accuse the one whom they were anxious to stone, and none threw the stone he held.

This episode is a demonstration of reading minds, and hearts in psychoanalysis. We can do this, too. By asking in faith in the name of Jesus Christ, it is ours and we have it in our hand. Then praise that he has already given us what we asked for, adding, "Let it come to pass. Let it become visible. Let it come into complete visibility. Let this heart beat in harmony with the Heart of God. Let this business send forth such service that it draws unto itself its own."

When we obey these instructions in seeking the Kingdom of Heaven, we don't need to worry. We are then in the Kingdom. Give, give, give, lift, lift, lift, and love, love, love.

We cannot pour out enough Love on any day or on any given occasion or situation. The more we pour out, the more our capacity increases, then the more we will find upon which to pour out Love. We are always progressing upward.

Love is the fulfilling of the Law, and is the great and definite Law. Get the ability to expand into and surrender completely to the Power of Love itself. The message of the mustard seed is surrender. The law of the lily is to grow today, to use everything in our lives today, as if it were to be the last day of our lives. Live each hour this way, and our days will be perfect. Praise God, praise each other, praise everything always.

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