I came across an article recently about why it’s important to dream. Not while sleeping but dreaming as in aspirations, ambitions for the future. As a teacher, I ask my students this a lot. I had several teachers growing up that squashed our goals and dreams. “Oh, you’ll never do that,” they said as if they’ve not only seen the future but written it as well. I don’t recall any of these teachers telling me I’ll never amount to anything, but I have friends who had the same teachers, and unfortunately, they remember. It’s a disgrace.
One reason I ask my students what they want to be is to show them that their teacher believes in them and cheers them every step of the way. They may not remember, and that’s okay. I see it in their faces when I tell them how wonderful their hopes and dreams are.
I miss dreaming of playing baseball for the Phillies. I got chills every time I watched Mike Schmidt’s 500th homerun on the special VHS, That Ball’s Outta Here! After arriving – autographed – I watched it dozens of times. All of it. I never fast-forwarded to the historical 3-oh pitch. The anticipation leading up to it was almost as enjoyable. When the hit came, followed by Harry K’s signature call, chills danced on my skin, and I could see myself doing the same thing one day. A crystal clear image embedded in my heart.
Well, I don’t need to tell you that didn’t happen. But, boy, dreaming about it was powerful. A small taste of heaven.
I admit that VHS hasn’t entered a VCR in a while, but it’s on my shelf in my office, serving as a reminder of how important it is to dream – to set aside burdens and current circumstances and look ahead.
The article begins with five reasons people stop dreaming. A previous post talks about three of them. Here are the final two (paraphrased and adapted – or simply my thoughts):
4: Too difficult. Too demanding.
Pink sings, “where there is desire, there is gonna be a flame/where there is a flame, someone’s bound to get burned/but just because it burns, doesn’t mean you’re gonna die”
This is a powerful truth. There will always be opposition – spiritual, emotional or relational. Some people, like my previous teachers, don’t want others to succeed. The enemy doesn’t either.
The amazing Lauren Daigle sings, “you are not hopeless/though you have been broken/I will never stop marching to reach you/in the middle of the hardest fight”
These lyrics remind us we are not alone. Ever. Even if you’re too cowardly to believe.
The reward is worth it. While taking my MA classes, I battled doubt as I struggled to see the finish line. Now, I can’t believe I even muttered the words the enemy loves to hear, “How am I ever going to do this?”
5. Listening to Others
This can be one of the worst things you can ever do, especially regarding your dreams. Other people’s words are not a measure of how wonderfully you’re made. They may tear us down and even inspire us, but we are always more than what people say. Human words cannot describe the beauty we have inside. Yes, the beauty is there even when you have one of those days that “slip through your finger and onto the floor.”
I believe if it’s truly a dream, a passion to uplift and inspire, then God planted it there. Planted for a reason. We don’t always get arrows or signs telling us where to go and what to do as we decipher our life’s plan. But the seed in our soul is a start.
Kristi Hurley suggests writing your dreams down. Write it down, whether home repairs, becoming a best seller, earning a promotion, or mastering cooking or guitar. Don’t choke your passion. Give it life.
Next are the 10 reasons it’s important to dream.
…to be continued
Dream Out Loud,
rg