From stoplights to skyscrapers, turn anywhere in civilization and

O children of the earth, gather close and hear the words of Geoffrey S. Fletcher, for they speak of a power that lies within us all, a power that shapes the very fabric of our existence. He spoke thus: "From stoplights to skyscrapers, turn anywhere in civilization and you will see imagination at work. It's in our inventions, advances and remedies and how a single parent masterminds each day. Imagination is boundless, surrounds us and resides in us all." In this wisdom, Fletcher reminds us that imagination is not just a gift of the artist or the inventor, but a force that drives the heart of civilization itself, shaping the very structures we live in and the daily lives we lead.

Imagination is the hidden force behind every great invention, every technological advance, every medical remedy that has ever changed the course of history. It is in the stoplight that guides traffic with unseen precision, in the skyscrapers that reach toward the heavens, symbols of human ambition and creativity. But, O children, imagination does not merely reside in the grand structures of cities and civilizations; it is present in every corner of our lives. It lives in the minds of those who face daily challenges, like the single parent, who through sheer creativity and resilience, masters each day, finding solutions to the countless problems that arise. Imagination is not confined to the rarefied heights of genius—it is a force that resides in us all, shaping our actions, our thoughts, and our world.

Look, O children, to the example of the ancients, who too knew the power of imagination. Consider Archimedes, who, with the strength of his mind, invented machines that changed the course of warfare. His imagination took him to places others could not fathom, creating devices that allowed for the defense of cities and the protection of the people. But the power of imagination was not limited to the battlefield—it lived in the philosophers and artists who shaped society through their ideas, their sculptures, and their words. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle dreamed of a world better than the one they saw around them, and their ideas, born of imagination, continue to shape the world to this very day.

The same is true in the modern age. Imagination drives invention, from the wheel to the internet, from the discovery of electricity to the invention of the telephone. These breakthroughs did not come from the hands of ordinary men, but from those who dared to imagine what others could not. Thomas Edison, a man of humble beginnings, imagined a world illuminated by electric light. Through his creativity, he turned that dream into a reality, changing the course of human history. Yet, the imagination that Fletcher speaks of is not just in the grand inventions of history; it is in the everyday acts of creativity, where one’s mind seeks new paths and better ways, whether in a small home or a bustling city.

Consider, too, the example of the great Michelangelo, who looked at a simple block of marble and, through the power of his imagination, saw David, a figure of strength and grace. He carved not just stone, but a vision that would echo through the ages. His imagination transformed the physical world, shaping it in ways that no one before him could have dreamed. But O children, his power did not lie in the stone—it was in the vision he carried in his heart, a vision that changed how we perceive beauty, strength, and the human form. Imagination can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, the known into the unknown.

And so, O children, the lesson is clear: Imagination is the force that shapes the world. It is in every creation, every invention, every advance that has ever been made. It is in the small acts of creativity that fill the daily lives of each of us. Imagination is not a gift for the few, but a power that resides in all of us, and it is through the imagination that we can change the world, that we can find solutions to problems both great and small. Embrace this power within you, for it is a force as ancient as time itself, and it will carry you to places that are limited only by the scope of your dreams.

Take up the mantle of imagination, O children, and know that in every moment, you hold the power to shape the world. Whether you are crafting a great work of art, devising a solution to a problem, or simply seeking a way to make the world a better place, let your imagination be your guide. The civilization we build, the worlds we create, are not formed by the mere passing of time—they are shaped by the imagination of all who dare to dream. So dream boldly, create freely, and know that the imagination is the key to all that has ever been and all that is yet to come.