The raindrops are playing a soothing, hypnotic symphony, tapping rhythmically against my office window.

I'm writing, riding a stream of consciousness; those continuous, random thoughts that flow when we permit them – when the Creator allows us to be a humble conduit for his creation.

At times, if we're fortunate; our thoughts will carry us off on a magnificent quest; propel us to a far away land; plant us in the midst of some great romantic adventure. Our thoughts are tremendously powerful, fully capable of crafting untold happiness, tremendous wealth, love and desire beyond that which we had ever imagined possible or, conversely; manifesting crippling fear, terror, loneliness, abject poverty - both materially and spiritually, or malevolence.

We reap the harvest of our own thoughts. We play a major role in the creation of the true us; the spirit that is who we are beyond our carnality - our intellectualism.

It takes a certain measure of courage to let our imaginations carry our thoughts off into the unknown; an unfeigned recklessness to drift off to that place beyond our humdrum everyday lives; that place of unfettered joy, inexorable love and passion – even death; that mysterious place where our thoughts and our dreams become our reality. This inexorable truth has been pondered and professed throughout the ages.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)

 "You are what you think. All that you are arises from your thoughts. With your thoughts you make your world." – Buddha

 We become what we think about. – Earl Nightengale

We must have a vision – a hope – a dream. We are the sum total of our experiences, our thoughts, our actions. Everything we have ever known to this point in our lives has molded us, shaped us – developed our character.

As we pursue our journey through this life, there are those who will either nurture or stifle our creative imaginations, our dreams - through their very words - their actions.

Dream! Let your imagination soar! Embrace creativity! One only needs to watch a child at play to see creative imagination at work; the purity of spirit that is ingrained in each of us; that spirit too often trampled under foot; crushed, destroyed, often-times unknowingly, by the negative, discouraging words of a parent, a teacher, a spouse or a friend.

A child creates his own world. His play, his fantasy; the fruit of his creative imagination becomes his reality. I have a three year old grandson, Logan. His ability to create his own world utterly detached from reality; a world totally real to him, amazes me. "Play with me, Gampy," he says, and I get down on my knees and immerse myself in his world, liberated, if only for a few moments, from the rigors of life.

That child-like faith; that creative imagination; that wonder exists in every one of us – instilled in us from the beginning as an integral part of our humanness.

In his book, Dangerous Wonder, the late Mike Yaconelli writes,

"We cover our deep ignorance with words, but we are afraid to wonder, we are afraid to whisper, "Mystery".

 Sometimes I think the people to feel saddest for are people who once new what profoundness was, but who lost or became numb to the sensation of wonder.

 We live in a time when faith is thin, because our aching for what is above and beyond us has been anaesthetized and our capacity for wonder reduced to clever tricks."

Have we been anaesthetized – numbed to the sensation of wonder – afraid to revisit our creative imaginations; that place where our abandoned hopes and dreams, reluctantly discarded so many years ago, await us; that place where we were told we must conform, give up our child-like faith, desert our imaginings?  

Whenever we step out – take a chance – leave our comfort zones; there will be resistance. Resistance is the dark side of creativity and it will tell you anything, any lie, to keep you from becoming the person you were destined to be; from doing the things you were put on this earth to do. If you are not experiencing resistance, you are probably entertaining mediocrity in your life.

"I can't because (insert your favorite excuse here)," is the voice of resistance; your enemy.

Step out! Do what it is you know you were meant to do. Be the person you know you were meant to be - the you who was left for dead, buried so many years ago in the sarcophagus of your ailing spirit.

No more excuses! Sit down at the computer and write that first word – pick up the paint brush and make that first stroke – make that commitment to volunteer – take that first step to becoming the mom or dad you've always promised yourself you would be.

Do something - whatever it is! Make the time. Take the first step. Tap into your creative imagination. Renew your child-like faith!

Do you live in or near Easton? Here are some ideas for relaxing, cleaning out all the junk in your head, freeing up your imagination and giving yourself the opportunity to listen to that still, small voice.

• Visit Borderland State Park and walk the many beautiful trails or be a pioneer – forge your own trail! Sit by the water and let yourself be still.

• Take a stroll through the NRT Sheep Pasture. Sit under a tree, close your eyes, clear your mind of all those negative thoughts and let your imagination carry you off to another place.

• Take your kids/grandkids to the Children's Museum of Easton and lose yourself in the wonder of child-like innocence.

• Talk a walk around New Pond or visit Old Pond. Take the time to sit, relax and enjoy nature.

• Hike through one of the several conservation areas in town.

• Get down on the floor and play with a child – like a child.

• Sign up for a Yoga class at the YMCA or one of the many private studios in town.

• Read a good book in the quiet of the Ames Free Library.

Make time for you!  

The rain has reached the final stanza. The symphony ends.

Have a great week.

Bob Havey is an Easton based freelance writer. You may reach him at RHH@BobHavey.com.