One of the main things we do is encourage one another to live well and to not cease from dreaming. My main encouragement to them is to get on with what you’re good at.
We are a “community of passion” – we are passionate about living lives that count, lives that demonstrate stewardship.
As Gary Hamel says, “Extraordinary things are done by communities of passion.”
Yes, survival is enough. Raising your kids to love God and getting them through college is an achievement by itself. But we recognize the value of our dreams too. And for one long weekend a year, we bring out our dreams, look at them together, and consider their pricetags as well as the high price of not pursuing them.
Recently, all of us have been in a long phase of character-building. It’s a phase that often precedes dream-building. We look at the things that have tried our character and try to follow the example of Joseph (about whom the psalmist said: “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.”*)
For three days in March we review life and tell stories. Along the way, we laugh a lot. We reminisce. We’ve done life together for 35 years and have a lot of territory to cover.
We also ask the tough questions. We want to finish strong and recognize that doing so takes encouragement. As fans of C.S. Lewis, we resonate with what he said about the subject: “Something deep in the human heart breaks at the thought of a life of mediocrity. Our hearts cry out for life.”
These guys are one of God’s great gifts to me. What we have together is part of the dream that God is fulfilling in me. They give me the courage to take risks that might otherwise lay dormant.
Do you have friends like that – do you have a community of passion? It’s a dream worth fighting for.
* Psalm 105.19
Comments (9)
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Seth Barnes
I'm motivated to join God in his global reclamation project. He's on the move, setting his sons and daughters free from their places of captivity. And he's partnering with those of us who have been freed to go and free others.
Creating one here now. Thanks for the reminder/impetus to invest more in this community!
Great post Seth, a compelling blog to live without any regrets.
He is bringing me back around to real dreams, not just the demands of mankind! Great blog!
Looks like you’ve got some great communion fixings on the table too! Great post. Looking forward to some of that community next week!
Love that Lewis quote.
I loved your post! That is so great to hear you’ve been a part of such a thriving community for so long.
Thanks Seth…I do have such a group though not the 35 year consistency. It is two Wheaton College professors…a guy who was homeless six years ago…a gay software executive in San Francisco…a navy pilot and a literary agent who became agnostic…or so he says. They are real. No pretense…I put our son Samuel in the mix as well. Thanks again for sharing your story.
Thanks for this Seth! I love it!! I’ve been praying for you a lot lately and am so blessed by the fact that you have followed through with some amazing dreams. Can’t wait to see what’s next for you.
Thank you, Derek, Butch, and Morgan. I appreciate the encouragement.