This Week's Word & Thought: Imagine

Imagine, to me anyway, is one of the most powerful active words in the English language.  It has brought to us the adventures of Harry Potter and the saga of Luke Skywalker.  Imagining the impossible has led to the mapping of the human genome and now cures for certain cancers and crazy unlimited ways to improve human health.  It has also led to the splitting of atoms, the potential in the future for unlimited fusion energy and it has even led to scientific theories on the folding of time and space.  Yes, “Maximum warp Mr. Sulu!”

And what about all that is the beginning of AI?  Think of the potential and think of all the sci-fi movies we have watched about AI.  It is both awe inspiring and perhaps a bit scary.

Now, just imagine what we could do or give back to humanity if we put the power of IMAGINE to work on solving the human condition for those less fortunate.   One of the most emotional and poetically beautiful words ever spoken, or in this case sung, were John Lennon’s Imagine.  Here are the words.  If you get a chance this week, find the song.  Listen to it.  Then commit to never losing your imagination on how to improve life for those less fortunate or those who live in fear and with hatred surrounding them simply because they are somehow different.

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Now imagine I just gave you a big hug!

Namaste,

Tom