Never Giving Up on Dreams

Years ago, one of my friends gave me a journal that I quickly dubbed my dreaming journal. I'd hesitantly open the front cover and scribble down dreams that I could scarcely believe I was willing to commit to paper. It felt so risky, as though the mere admission of the dreams was a death sentence for them. I'd slam the journal closed after the last pen stroke and hide it under a pile of books, hoping that would protect my dreamy words from sabotage.

Over time, I stopped writing in the journal. 

Stopped dreaming, really.

Too many dreams never came true. Too many words seemed laughable when I pried the cover open weeks, months later. It was embarrassing and silly. Why would I do this? So I stopped. 

As I've gotten older, I've taken up dreaming again. God so mercifully helped me realize that my dreams weren't silly or embarrassing. Some did eventually come true...just not as quickly as I would have chosen. Others came to pass in ways that looked different from my vision, but in truth, they were even better. 

But I have to tell you about a sweet dream moment this week.

It started when I realized the Lenten season begins next week, and I hadn't thought yet what I might study during that time. A thought popped into my mind: I'd had an idea for a study that I'd sketched into an outline a while back, but I wasn't sure if I still had that outline. I dragged a dining room chair into the office and stood on tippy toes to sort through a box of random writing ideas. 

I found it!

I'd scribbled it on an old church bulletin, and the date at the top told me I'd made the list in 2013. Reading down through my notes pushed my heart to beat faster with ideas and questions and the desire to dive in to learn.

Later that very same day, another friend sent me a journal. The words on the front said He has made everything beautiful in His time. And the admonition that came with the journal was this: "On the first page, write a dream you have and one step you'll take TODAY to make that dream come true."

I thought back to earlier in the day when I revisited my idea of a study I dreamed up in 2013. Eight full years ago! I thought of my desire to dive in with study and writing. I thought of my lack of free time in comparison to what I used to have. I thought of the words in our sermon in church on Sunday: Your schedule shows what matters most to you.

So I peeled open the cover of that new journal - the one with the reminder that He makes everything beautiful in His time - and wrote that I dreamed of completing this study, and I would take a step today by making time to write something, even though some days are so very full.

Writing those words felt so invigorating, but my favorite thing by far that day was the way God reminded me that it's always good to dream, and in His time, He will bring them to pass in His own beautiful way. And sometimes it might be years later before that time comes! 

How grateful I am for these people God plants in my life to urge me to dream in words on paper. To risk committing them to print and wait for God's timing. 

Keep dreaming with me, friends!! If you're feeling discouraged today, don't give up!