You might not notice it, upon first glance, but it’s there. If I look hard enough, I think we have something in common! I’ve been toting mine around for decades… It’s a worn out and faded bag of sorts, concealing equally faded dreams. Once treasured and shared, these dreams were a proud representation of our aspiring value, a hallmark of our personal contribution to our generation. Over time they get tucked away, kept just within reach. The weathered tote begins to represent missed opportunities, a lack of planning, unforeseen circumstances, uncertain priorities.
What happened?
Some of us call it Life. Proud optimism has been reduced to simple accomplishments: a bed made, teeth brushed, makeup applied BEFORE you picked up groceries, paid the bills, and taxied the kids home from school. The kids…today they only waited after school 7 minutes! Hey kids, it could have been worse! At least you weren’t the only ones standing outside in the sudden snow flurry.”
Time faithfully marches on…
An early morning… stillness… a calm fire…a house quiet. Three of those once-waiting children now run households of their own…
Colors brighten in the rear-view mirror:
Wow, those years were priceless. Where did they go?
I recall the familiar words from other moms when wearing dark circles under my eyes like daily spectacles, “Enjoy this season! It goes by so fast!”
“Are you kidding me?” I remember complaining as I grabbed my morning shower at 4pm. “There is nothing FAST about this season.”
…NOW the fire flickers. Well, Patty, wrong again…as usual. Those sweet days are behind me…too fast. A new season… new gifts….time to ponder….time to peek inside that dependable, threadbare sack… it’s traveled the distance…across decades…survived circumstances…It now strains to carry the faded contents of my youthful ambitions.
Where Would I Even Begin?
In his book, The Circle Maker, author Mark Batterson shares a joke about an airline pilot who came over the intercom, announcing, “I have good news and bad news. The bad news is we’re lost; the good news is we’re making great time.”[i]
So that’s my problem! One honest look informs me my dreams are pretty much in the same location they were 30 years ago. My Dream? Since the age of 14 I desired to write…a book. I’ve gotten lost…and found…in an array of fiction and non-fiction works. I hoped to one day encourage others the ways these books had fueled and shaped me. But somehow, amidst the flurry of family and ministry life, I felt too under-qualified and overwhelmed to develop a riveting story of a shattered girl, pierced with pain, whom God gently collected…piece by piece…
Mine is the story about a God who has been daily committed to forge a new life for the girl, one filled with genuine joy, beauty and hope!
Common Ground
Have you ever embraced a dream that felt somewhat daunting…a dream you can’t shake? Does it appear to be in the same place you left it since the last time you thought about it.? Ahhh, I wish I could pour us a cup of coffee while we laugh, cry and commiserate together! For now, may I encourage you with a couple of simple steps that might help you resurrect YOUR faded dreams:
Determine where you’re at. A map provides no guide unless you can identify your starting point:
- What activities consume your day, your time, your thoughts?
- Could any of these be defined as “side-ways energy”? (i.e.”good” things that are becoming an enemy to the best things?)
- Are there skills, individuals, tools that could help you work smarter, not harder? (Seek them out!)
Do you have a dream that has stood the test of time?
- The dream has faded… but it’s there! It’s still your first thought in the morning and the cause of many evening sighs. (Aha! You just located the destination!
What small step can you take today? Here are a couple of ideas:
- DUST OFF the dream, take a good look at it and present it to the One who gives dreams. God, what do I do with this? I feel stuck, lost, uncertain, insecure….
- ASK for His help….talk about the inadequacies you feel, the obstacles that stand in your way. Ask for clarity, His favor, renewed stamina, right motivation! Let all you do be done to the glory of God!
- SHARE with a trusted friend…nothing like some good ole’ accountability to give you a solid nudge in the right direction!
- WATCH... stay alert to the ways in which God opens doors and clears pathways for you to walk in. Don’t minimize humble trail-heads…or simple circumstances! Large doors turn on small hinges!
- TAKE a step! The first step! This isn’t a long jump…nor a sprint to the finish. Resist the need to impress. Enjoy the movement…feel the joy trickle into your soul!
- LISTEN…Allow God’s Word to strengthen you, renew you, and guide you. Once you harness the courage to take the first step, you’ll know how to take the next one…and the next…and the next…
- ENJOY the journey. Don’t wait until the finish line to celebrate. Find reasons to celebrate along the way.
Anchor for the Day: Psalm 37:7, 23 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. 23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. (NLT)
I’d love to hear about it!
What faded dream have you been carrying around… too precious to discard, but too vague to reveal and give life to it? What SIMPLE step will you commit to taking, to bring this dream to life?
Beauty Awaits….
Patty
Yes! Quite simply, yes and thank you.
Kelly you have been the most faithful encourager over the decades! Thank you Sweet Friend!
Patty, I too have been wanting, no knowing that God has been wanting me to write. Write of the love and the hurt that God has given me, has blest me with. There’s also a children’s book in me, a book to help children understand God’s love and a book(s) about our Australian Shepherds! You are such a special woman to me! You were used by our Lord to bring Brittany Storm(and Rick) into our lives!!! God Bless you! ‘Til we see each other again at LCCC and hug!
Love, hugs and prayers! Colette
Oh Colette- I will think of you and pray with you as I step forward on this journey. You Can do it! To God be the glory!!!!!
Dearest Patty, I’m Gabie Rodli. We met when you came to CLC, Missoula, not long ago. I’ve been waiting for your blog and today (March 7) it has entered my email. I am SO happy! You have been never too far from my thoughts. – I’m living my dream right now. But the funny thing is, I imagined I would be better at it. So to remember that “great doors are opened by small hinge gives me a solid confirmation that I only need to trust The Lord and keep walking….
Why, you truly entered my heart during our conference here in Missoula. Blessings! Love, Gabie
Oh Gabie, this has been such a journey for me getting this blog up and running. I deal with more obstacles with it than I care to mention, but your reply made every obstacle worth the effort. I’m so grateful that our Father made us family and that we can encourage one another. Let those doors swing wide!
I’m standing with you, Sis! Patty
I am happy you are doing this! What a great way to encourage others, with your gift of writing! My life long dream has been to be a stay at home mom and wife. It’s what I always said growing up. I need articles like THESE to remind me that I AM living my dream! To remind me of how I shouldnt lose sight of that or feel inferior because “I could have been more”. This is MY dream and I am living it. What an incredible reminder. Thank you for sharing your personal stories.
That is the most sacred dream of all, Ashley! You have a front row seat to invest in, and strengthen this generation coming behind us. I’m so proud of you…on so many levels!
Of course I have always wanted to be a writer too! Maybe we should start a little writing club 🙂
To be honest, my dream feels too big and too far fetched anymore and I’m afraid to even reach for it. When I was younger I would pray; “whatever it takes, whatever it breaks, all of me for all of you, nothing less” (that was my hearts prayer) and then my husband became terminally ill and died and it shook me. I still wonder, “If I hadn’t prayed THAT, would THAT have happened?” I have four children, two son-in-laws and two grand children. The “If?” is still too frightening.
funny enough, just writing what I did to you “out loud” suddenly made me feel bold. I guess you got to be my “friend” today. I’m going to do what you said. I’m going to dust, ask, watch, take, listen and enjoy. I will skip the share for now but thank you for the encouragement. It’s just what I needed this morning!
Oh April! You did share! I feel so honored that you would share these sacred dreams with me…and the painful pathway you’ve traveled…with me. May the Lord establish the work of your hands…may His favor and counsel fuel your dream!
Hi Patty! I read a book while I was in college 4 decades ago called “How to Be a People Helper” It was my heart’s cry to do that in the realm of children and parenting and Teaching Truth to children. And I lived that dream in seeing dozens of children’s faith birth and grow over the years. Like you I am looking for the next step. Is it Women’s Ministry? Somehow that doesn’t feel like “real” ministry, but then there is that pesky Titus 2 passage about the older (and boy am I older!!! 🙂 ) women teaching the younger women. I guess I question my ability to be helpful in that area. Am I qualified to teach? Will anyone want to listen? Thanks for this forum to share that process. Like you said…. To God Be the Glory!
I pray that Jesus would remove all the “Straight Jackets” that keep you from moving forward in response to His voice…I think we all resonate with them: “I’m too old, too inadequate, too uneducated…on and on…the enemy uses those lies to disqualify and discourage us. May I just declare, “Go for it friend!”…just listen daily to the voice of the Holy Spirit and simply take the next step He reveals to you…who knows where obedience will take you, but it’s the greatest adventure ever!!!! Love you sis, Patty
Sharlee, after reading those evaluations on your group, I can say with confidence, Jesus IS powerfully reflected through your life. As you respond in the direction of the Holy Spirit’s “tapping on your shoulder” I think His favor will take your breath away. You are dearly loved!