Like a Fool I Am, and I’ll Always Be
They said I daydreamed a lot in elementary school. By “they,” I mean my teachers. My parents were not impressed, but I could go anywhere in my dreams, and living reality was (and is) often not so. Truthfully, I’m not aware that it stopped in elementary school. I have always loved to dream. It is a rare occasion when I remember a nighttime dream, but my daydreaming has taken up the slack. I see what is, but I love to think about potentialities and what could be. I am in love with dreams. But that is problematic in its own way.
Broken dreams litter the highway of life amidst the remains of broken hearts- some still beating. It’s easier for dreams to fail than succeed, due largely to their fragility, especially in the beginning. Because of the great risk involved, some have deemed it useless to follow dreams where they lead or develop vision for living. There is a sadness in this because, as Jiminy Cricket queried, “If you don’t have a dream, how’re you going to have a dream come true?” I urge you not to die having never lived.
As one who has risked it all on a game of pitch-and-toss, I want to speak in favor of dreams and visions. Most of us never see much real change in our lifetimes, but we will see none if we do not dream. Ordinary living is often repetitive and boring, but vision gives zest. Do you want to live your life by rote, or would you like to go for it? I want to swing for the bleachers. I’ve never been a good athlete, but I’ve tried my hardest at everything I’ve done. I seldom make contact, but I follow the old adage “swing hard in case you hit it.”
There will always be those who mock your dreams. At least, they will not take them seriously, and that’s just as bad. I say “as bad” because it’s humiliating and hurts a little inside. A dream, however, is not subject to public scrutiny and should not be poll-tested. You only need settle your dreams between yourself and God. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but there have been many worthwhile dreams I would never have attempted if I had taken the advice of my friends and acquaintances. There is safety in counselors, but dreams are personal.
The dreams of Christ-followers are subject to His will. Every believer should have a dream of accomplishment for God. We will be considered foolish by many for accepting His burden and following His cause, but have a dream. Derision will also come as we make our life-decisions based on His calling, but dream on. Occasionally, we ourselves may cast a wistful eye at what might have been had we taken another road, but follow. Step up to the plate and take a firm stance. Get your balance and swing hard. You might hit it.
Sterl
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