The Dreamers Who Dream Dreams

At least 27,189 times (as a rough estimate), I have heard the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" That particular query is answered now, but my childhood answers always depended on my latest obsession: musician, librarian, chef, teacher, roboticist, lawyer, astrophysicist, surgeon, engineer, forensic pathologist, supervillain (not everyone could be the hero, after all), linguist, you name it. Interestingly, at no point prior to age twenty-one was the answer "preacher," but God does what He wants.

Recently I saw an image reading, "When adults ask children what they want to be when they grow up, they're really just looking for ideas." Adults have dreams, too, though. They may not be career aspirations, but they're there: marriage, family, a house, a business, a muscle car, winning the lottery, touring Europe, making a difference. Some people have very specific dreams, like curing breast cancer or harvesting the next renewable energy source.

Regardless of content, dreams are important. They can show us at our very best -- or at our darkest worst. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks," Christ says in Luke 6:45. Our inner selves inevitably come out, whether we want them to or not. Frequently they become exposed by our hopes and dreams, our ambitions and aspirations. Imagine, for instance, if you could accomplish one thing -- anything at all -- simply by waving your hand. What would you do? What was your first inclination? Your answers reveals a lot about you.

We need dreams and people who dream them. We need those who are obedient to a God-given vision. Together we can change a world for the glory of God.