What makes us dream? What is it deep inside that compels us toward something else, something greater? Often a dream begins with an inspiration. We see a person do something impressive, talented or unusual. We witness nature: rain, a thunderstorm, animals, or the land around us. Nature has always impressed and inspired me. The weather is one thing that man is unable to manipulate or control. No human has the power to call up a storm, dictate where the wind will blow, or place a rainbow in the sky. Man will always be out to conquer nature. We will climb mountains, ride waves, hike deserts and swim through oceans just to get a taste of something distant, new and undiscovered. It’s in our very nature to desire more.
Sometimes there are times in my life when certain themes resurface and repeat. I’ll read about one subject in one book, just to hear someone else talking about the same subject, and then I’ll hear a song with the same ideas. I don’t really believe in coincidences since I believe that our lives are more than just mere happenings. When themes like this begin to surface, I try to pay close attention. While I believe that God will make Himself known however He chooses, I should use the abilities I’ve been given to seek after Him. If such repetitive subjects should arise in my life, is it not an ideal time to draw into Him and ask, why?
The theme of dreams has been surfacing through a number of facets recently. I keep hearing it come up in songs mainly. But, a couple weeks ago, it was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Martin Luther King famously pegged the words, "I have a dream..." He was a civil rights leader who stood up for freedom and spoke these words in a speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Today, these words are famous because they were revolutionary at the time, and his dreams have become a reality. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Luther's speech, leadership, and life were inspiring. His dream was big. His dream was purposeful. His dream was noble. His dream was not personal, but it was for all. This is an important part of a dream.
How many times a day do you hear the word dream? Listen today. You will hear it in TV commercials, radio spots, SONGS, brand names, titles, etc. You will probably say it yourself. But what measures the weight of dream? And how much should you dream?
Okay, so we all dream. We all have thoughts of a better future. It's a hope of something beyond what we are living right now. I believe it is healthy and natural. Here are some of my dreams, large and small. I dream of traveling all over the world. I dream of meeting people from different places and hearing about their life and culture. I dream of running a marathon (soon, I hope). I dream of writing a book. I dream of marrying and raising a family. I dream of witnessing a real-life miracle (God willing). Besides these personal dreams, I have more beyond my own world. I dream that there would be peace. I dream of living in a place where people are concerned for the lives of others above themselves. I dream of a world without war. I dream of beauty, not death or pain or suffering. Yes, these dreams may be beyond our human abilities, but that doesn't mean I will not fight for them. If not on this earth, I will see them in heaven.
What are your own dreams? What are your talents? What is stopping you from going after your dreams? (and how dumb is that excuse?)
I actually began writing this post a month ago, and it was way before I started training with TNT. But I took on this challenge because I had wanted to do it for so long and was tired of hearing myself talk about it. I wanted to do it because it was something that I could be a part of that was not for myself. The world is SO much bigger than myself. I love to run and having a purpose for running makes it actually worthwhile (plus I really like to tell people about it). I have dreams just like all the patients, survivors and families that I run for. They have places they want to go and things they want to do it life. Cancer is ugly, and it will be a fight to defeat it. But I'm going to be a part of that fight.
Next time you have a dream, think of some else who has a dream. It may be someone you know or a stranger. Could they be fighting cancer for their dream?
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