The Reality of My Dreams

Dreams. We all have them right? I mean just the other night I had this really weird dream where I had to go the bathroom but couldn't seem to find a bathroom with any privacy. Yes, it was rather disturbing. And how come whenever I'm the hero in my dream and I go to punch the bad guy my muscles don't work? My entire arm doesn't work for that matter. What is up with that?

Actually these are not the dreams I was originally referring to. I mean those things that spur us on to greater heights. The fuel that revs up our resolve. The mental picture that we perspire toward. You get the picture. Dream: an aspiration, hope, goal, aim, objective, grail.

I recently gave a graduation commencement address that caused me to think once again of 'dream'. Of course I spoke of following the dreams that God has set in the heart, and in doing so truly shining your light before men for all to see and give praise to our Father (Matt 5:16). As I was preparing the talk, and evaluating it afterward, I got to thinking about my own dreams.

I used to have a motto in life: I take my dreams to be reality, 'cause God believes in the reality of my dreams. As with many things, that motto has faded a bit. It is as if I put it in a cigar box with many other treasured things and put it up out of reach in the back of the top shelf in the closet. I pulled it out and shined it up to show the graduates, but in doing so was reminded of a younger me, a more 'dreamy' me. I am having to ask myself if I still take my dreams to be reality. There is an echo ringing as the question bounces around in my soul. It makes its way back and asks: do I still dream?

Do I plan? Yes, I am in the process of planning a large, week-long series for the youth in our area. Do I strategize? Yes, I am trying to develop a process whereas students find ministries they can participate in. Do I program, project, intend, draw, layout, illustrate, formulate? Yes, but. The base question is: do I still dream?

Well, frankly no not really. OK, maybe I don't need new dreams, what about the old ones I used to have? Have I revisited them? Hmmm... not in a while they look pretty dusty. Can God still believe in the reality of something that isn't there any more?

I don't have the answers yet. But I can tell you one thing: Tonight I'm gonna make sure I go the bathroom before I fall asleep.