Exegeting Beatles

I have always had a funny relationship with the John Lennon song "Imagine."
The chord progression is mediocre and touching; the melody gloriously simplistic and restful.
The lyrics are really where I get caught in a conundrum of emotions. I don't really like the lyrics, never really have, yet I feel some fiery-hot pressure that I should. Almost as, that because I don't like the song, I am an ungrateful, wretched, war-loving...Dare I say it?... CONSERVATIVE! (gasp!)
So, I have pretended to enjoy this mid/post Vietnam tribute to love and justice - just to make sure I wouldn't be contradicting my hippie soul. Yet there it sat.... bothering me.

But this morning there was light shed, so immaculately, so advent-ready, on my paradox.

The lyrics to "Imagine" prove the juxtaposition between the hope of humanity and the ability of God.
The song is the ultimate representation of the fact that without the hand of God, all we can do is imagine. (May I be so bold to remind you, "With God, nothing is impossible." )
The lyrics long for a time of peace, yet asks for it without accountability. They search out human ability to "Imagine there is no heaven, It's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky" "imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do. No greed or hunger, no religion too."
The message is humanity's reality. We want peace, comfort, brother/sisterhood, unity - yet are unable to give up the very thing that keeps us from attaining such - our belief that we can do it in the first place.
How can there be hope without the source of all hope? It seems to me that in reality the "Imagine" message is one of hopelessness. It is the relinquishing of the human ability to bring peace and joy to the world.
Perhaps one could witness the irony that when we dream, when two or more are gathered, when people join together, we can and do live in unity and harmony when the spirit of God manifests. "You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world with live as one." I believe God agrees with this song, yet is saddened by our unwillingness to dream God into the process, to imagine God being the bearer and creator of the hope that stirs deep within the songwriters', and perhaps the worlds' soul.

These are my initial thoughts. And my boss just walked in. So, for now, gotta go.