Sep 10
29
Einstein’s Dummy
While in Texas, Cate and I went out to the McDonald Observatory. The telescopes are a sight to behold. After gazing at the stars, we went through the gift store on our way out. I noticed a book entitled, Einstein for Dummies. After reading the book, I did not understand Einstein any better than when I started. Since the book failed in its mission, I could only conclude that I am not a dummy. In fact, as confused as I was at the end validates that I must be quite brilliant!
What I did take from the book was something I never knew and that was how much Einstein used his imagination in figuring out his theories. He talked about how he imagined himself racing alongside a beam of light shooting around the universe or riding it, holding a mirror out in front of him to see if he could see his face at the speed of light.. He credited his childlike imagination for his discoveries. Insight, he said, did not come from mathematics or logic but from intuition and inspiration.
“He used his imagination to connect things in his head, and to imagine things that human beings couldn’t see with the naked eye. He thought about mass and energy in a new, creative way. His imagination helped him to think about things that don’t actually exist, but would prove his theory.” Einstein said it well, “”Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” For Einstein, it wasn’t his remarkable intelligence that fueled him but his unceasing wonder for the mystery of the universe. It is the same for children, wonder and awe are part of a child’s spirituality. Perhaps Einstein’s real genius was that he was smart enough not to outgrow it like most adults.
A child’s sense of wonder and awe at life is a natural doorway to seeing God and knowing God. The art of playing is so important, it is where imagination and creativity, as Einstein would say, ‘stretch around the world.’ Many times we adults don’t value a Child’s play and how it can make them present to God. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me.’ He did not say force or coerce, he simply said let. A little child’s wonder naturally draws them to God. It is our desire at St. Margaret’s to “Let” a child come to Jesus, drawn by their own sense of wonder.
See you Sunday, Matt+
