Imagine That

OK all you engineers, you're going to love this! The above video is from TED which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. TED is an invitation-only event where the world's leading thinkers and doers gather to find inspiration. They then put their presentations online for the general public to watch. Most of the video presentations are 20 minutes or shorter in length. It's good stuff!

The TED video that I have selected is by Dutch artist Theo Jansen. Jansen has been working for 16 years to create sculptures, called Strandbeests, that move on their own in lifelike ways. His newest creatures walk without assistance on the beaches of Holland, powered by wind, captured by wings that flap and pump air into old lemonade bottles that in turn power the creatures' many plastic spindly legs. The walking sculptures look alive as they move, each leg articulating in such a way that the body is steady and level. They even incorporate primitive logic gates that are used to reverse the machine’s direction if it senses dangerous water or loose sand where it might get stuck.

Enjoy the short video! I find this kind of thing inspirational. The inquisitiveness, curiosity and power of the human mind to create. Now, I know some of you more sensible types are saying, "But why!" "What's the point?" "What can these Strandbeests do?"

Maybe nothing yet. Maybe nothing ever! Innovation comes as we push the limits of possibility and what has been done before. Just because something has no obvious immediate use, doesn't mean it's not worth exploring.

And why do I say that? Because I believe that being creative is part of what it means to be made in the image of God. To imagine, to dream, to explore, to think, to create - this is part of what it means to be human. This is part of what it means to be created in the image of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21