I was talking with Charles Lee a few days ago and he shared this quote from Myles Monroe:
“The graveyard is the richest place on the surface of the earth because there you will see the books that were not published, ideas that were not harnessed, songs that were not sung, and drama pieces that were never acted.”
Wow. What a great quote! Sometimes I’ll be on a long jog and a wonderful idea will enter my head and I’ll think, “What if I never make it home, write down this idea, and actually do it? Where does the idea go? I’ll just take it to the grave with me.”
I love to dream. Brainstorming about things that could be but are not is one of my favorite activities.
All of us dream. As teenagers, we dream about falling in love and getting married one day. A family. A nice house. A good job.
But somewhere along the way, the dreaming process begins to slow down or even, for some, stop altogether. The gap between what is and what could be narrows until our dreams become small and pedestrian – more like hopes than dreams.
We stop for a number of reasons:
- Distraction. The day-to-day overwhelms the future.
- Discouragement. Our dreams get dashed.
- Poverty. Our lack of resources.
- Wet blankets. Negative people are everywhere and they like to rain on your parade.
One of the things I dream about is helping people dream more. Maybe it’s time to kickstart your dreaming again. What situations in your life or somewhere in the world need God’s dream? Where does the gap between what is and what could be move you?
Your dreams may be the most precious thing about you. Nurture them. Spend time seeing them in your imagination. God may want to trust you with his dreams. Will you be trustworthy? The world needs his dreams and they need people like you to make them happen.
Always love reading your blog. This one resonated with me a bit extra. My early influences cast scorn across the idea of dreaming and dreamers. It was hard work and a sober temperament that was to be valued in my childhood home. In my own life, not dreaming seemed safer, you couldn’t be disappointed if you didn’t expect very much. Over the years, I think God has chipped away at this for me and accelerated the beginnings of dreams, this year especially.
I wrote a short piece about dreaming God dreams in August. Quite a feat coming from a “non- dreamer” like me. I share the link below.
http://god-reprieve.blogspot.com/2012/08/what-he-really-needs.html
..I’m new to writing thoughts out so I very much appreciate that encouragement. 🙂
Seth. You living out the dreams and ideas god gives you inspires so many. I also love graham cooke’s message. Living from a place of dreAming. I’m sure you’ve heard it. But I listen to It over and over.
Thanks, Tara.
When I was young I used to have a vivid imagination. I frequently lead a group of friends around the house living out a dream of being a spy or a warrior in an epic battle.
Some where along the way this imagination was squashed. Perhaps it was because I never felt safe at home. Perhaps it was because I was riddiculed with out protection for these games. Perhaps constant failure in chasing dreams with out support or help left me defeated. I know deep with in my soul lies a dreamer, a longing to create, to risk, to build. But when the times for creativity come I’m synical and overly grounded.
I’ve realized I can’t even dare to dream for my life instead hoping God reveals my future, laid out all nice and neat. So I know where I’m going instead of waving my arms and stumbling like a blind man.
Lord I’m surprised by the things you unlocked thru this blog and I pray that you would take me to the wounds that are hindering the dreamer inside me. Holy Spirit come and lead me through the process of unlocking and healing the dreamer. I want to dream and be trust worthy with your dreams.
Bryan – my perspective is that you’ve made up any lost ground in terms of your spiritual imagination. You are able to perceive things that most folks can’t and you have a hunger level that is a gift.
Watching the Lord grow in you is a great encouragement to me. You’ve come such a long way in just a short time.
I join you in praying that the Holy Spirit will continue to heal the dreamer in you. And when God gives you his dreams, I know you will be trustworthy with them. It’s your nature to be trustworthy.
Rhonda – wow! Just went to your blog and loved it! So glad to see that you won’t be, as the song says, “hiding your light under a bushel.” The world needs it.
This reminds me of the Bethany Dillon song Dreamer. You should give it a listen if you haven’t heard it. 🙂