Monday, September 10, 2012

Living with 3D vision

I know I’m behind the times. I have yet to see a 3D movie at the cinema, so can only imagine what it must be like. But wait—did I just write ‘only imagine’? What a grave injustice to my imagination! You see, recently I realised all over again that I tend to see so many things in 3D in my mind on a regular basis. I recall some event or hear something wonderful and see it in full colour in my imagination. I put myself right in the scenario and experience it from all angles. And I often wish I could write it all down and convey it to others even half as vividly as I have witnessed it in my mind.

Do you experience this too? Or is it just crazy me? As I was talking with a friend the other day and describing something that had happened to me, I noticed how I could not seem to resist setting the scene in a colourful way, commenting on exactly where I had been standing, expressing my feelings about it all with great emotion and generally taking much longer to tell the whole story than others would! But then I stopped short and apologised.
‘Sorry!’ I told my friend. ‘I know my husband would tell me to hurry up and get to the point, but I’m a storyteller. I can’t seem to help myself!’

Several years ago, during a wonderful week-long writing course I attended, our group was led in a guided imagery exercise. We were asked to imagine a large room, to picture the dimensions of it and where the doors and windows might be. Next, we were asked what else might be in that room—perhaps a fireplace or a particular item of furniture. Then we were led to wonder who might be in that room. Was there more than one person? If so, what was their relationship like? On it went in this way—until I was almost bursting to want to write it all down! From the moment our course facilitator had started, I was off, lost in my imaginary room. For some odd reason, I had pictured a large dining room in an old, English manor, complete with fireplace, huge dining table and heavy chandelier. And in my room were two people—a mother and an adult son, come together for the first time in many years. There was no love lost between these two, I knew. The mother was stubborn and autocratic—and also ill. And the son, a doctor, was equally stubborn, but also very angry and bitter. I was fascinated with the whole scenario—and I wanted to find out more.
By the time that course was over, this scene had become a long Chapter One of what I hoped would be a future novel. I put it away until around eighteen months ago—and now that chapter has become the first chapter of my sixth novel, The Inheritance, due for release next year.  

I never cease to be amazed at the power of imagination and at our ability to see those 3D images in all their glory inside our heads. But then, why should I be? After all, we are created in God’s image. And we only have to look around us to see God’s awesome creativity and imagination at work in nature. How blessed we are to have such an amazing, God-given resource at our disposal!

Jo-Anne Berthelsen grew up in Brisbane, Australia, and holds an Arts degree from Queensland University. She has also studied Education and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher and editor, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne loves communicating through both the written and spoken word and currently has five published novels – ‘Heléna’, ‘All the Days of My Life’, ‘Laura’, ‘Jenna’ and ‘Heléna’s Legacy’.  She is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and three grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

7 comments:

  1. Love that you got a chance to use that scene!
    Using your imagination is a great thing!

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    1. Yes, I would love to let the course facilitator know that scene is in my next novel, Eva! I will see if I can track her down.

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  2. Jo-Anne, I love the 3D movies that run in my imagination, and unfortunately real 3D usually give me a headache. Thanks for sharing the inspiration for your new book :)

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    1. Thanks, Narelle. Apart from that scene that begins my next novel, I have no idea where the rest of the contents of that book came from! Our minds and our imaginations sure are amazing, aren't they?

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  3. I learn so much about the imagination by watching my four-year-old! It's so fun. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks, Melanie. You've inspired me to listen and observe my three young grandchildren more!

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