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