I have a dream....

Most of us are familiar with these four words spoken by Martin Luther King Jr. on that hot August day more than 40 years ago.  He spoke with great passion for his dream -- for freedom, for unity, for justice and for brotherhood.  He dreamed of changing the world -- for him, for his children and for all of mankind. 

Recently I came across the quote, "Everything great on this earth was achieved because someone had a dream and dared to pursue it".   This reminded me of Martin Luther King Jr.  -- He dared to pursue his dream and history is forever changed because of it.

Do you have a dream?  If we are at all alike, (which by the way, we are) you do have one.  In fact, I'll bet you have quite a few.  As a young girl, I had dreams about who and what I would become, about where I would live and places I would visit.  My dreams were birthed in hope for my future -- there seemed to be no limit to the opportunities ahead.  Perhaps there was a time when you felt the same. 

However, the passage of time as well as life experiences change things, don't they?   I know that my dreams have changed quite a bit since I was young.  Now they are more for my children and marriage as well as for the work God has given me.  Maybe your dreams have changed too.

Sometimes our dreams are birthed in pain -- we dream of being safe, of being loved, of escaping a difficult life situation, or of overcoming an addiction.  Whatever your dreams may be, its important to nurture them.  They exist for a purpose -- dreams are often what keeps us holding on when the going gets tough and may help us achieve the impossible. 

Not everyone is living out their dreams however.  Many experience life challenges, set backs and disappointments that rob them of energy towards pursuing their dream.  Their dreams get lost in the details of surviving everyday life. 

I've asked women about their dreams and am inspired by their answers.  One dear woman in her 50s told me she wanted to learn how to read but believed the time to do so had passed.  Another young, homeless mother of 5 told me her dream was to one day solve crimes and rescue exploited children.   Others have told me they dream of mastering the art of photography, pursuing artistic talents, publishing poetry and even pushing through fear to dip their feet in the ocean. 

We are dreamers by design - dreams are an exciting part of who we are -- they give us hope.  Our dreams may show us who God created us to become.  It is important to nurture and pursue them. 

The Dream Giver is a modern day parable of a dreamer called Ordinary who lives in a land called Familiar where he does ordinary things.  The author, Bruce Wilkinson, takes readers on a journey with Ordinary in pursuit of his dream.  This book has been compared to John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress, and has been written as a conversational story that draws one into Ordinary's experiences throughout his Dream Journey.

We first meet Ordinary working at his Usual job, doing the same thing day after day.  Until one day he begins to feel a nagging that something big is missing from his every-day life.  Ordinary leaves the land of Familiar to pursue his Big Dream.  Once he moves beyond his Comfort Zone, he encounters (and conquers) Bullies in the BorderLand, survives a walk in the WasteLand, and pushes through the Valley of Giants -- all before he finally reaches the Land of Promise where he lives out his Big Dream.

As I read the tale of Ordinary, I found myself identifying with the challenges he encountered during the pursuit of his Big Dream.  I can easily related to the fear of leaving Familiar, the emotional battles with the Bullies, the impatience in the WasteLand, and the desire to quit when encountering Giants.  But.... thankfully I can also identify with Ordinary's sheer joy of reaching the Land of Promise and the great satisfaction upon realizing his Big Dream come true.

What I found most inspiring about this story is Ordinary's relationship with the Dream Giver.  Its important for us to realize that God, the Dream Giver, has created each of us with a unique set of gifts and talents.  And... that He has designed us with the wonderful ability to dream, to have vision and hope for the future.   God's desire is for us to have a fulfilling life -- one of great value and purpose. 

We can often get sidetracked from God's call on our life -- otherwise known as the Big Dream -- during difficult seasons, by distractions, heartaches, and unforeseen circumstances.  In The Dream Giver, Wilkinson provides some practical truths, illustrations and real-life examples of issues one encounters when pursuing her Big Dream.  His words are inspiring and encouraging and have given me renewed desire to pursue my dreams!

Wilkinson says, "A God-given Dream brings you together with what God wants to do in His world through you.  You are meant to be a river of blessing, not a puddle drying in the sun"

I'm learning to trust God during times when the circumstances may not be making sense, to recognize that God is always at work on my behalf, and to experience joy and peace as I continue on the road towards realizing my dreams.  God has a plan for me and He has one for you.  May we be that river of blessing that refreshes not only our own souls but also the souls of others who are on their own Dream Journey!

Dream on my friends......